title: Breast cancer information on the internet: analysis of accessibility and accuracy.
abstract: Studies show internet sourced information often has poor accuracy. However, it is rapidly becoming a major source of patient information. Our aim was to assess accuracy of breast cancer-related information on the internet. The top five breast cancer-related search terms were identified using the commercial program "Wordtracker". These terms were searched using the search-engine "Google" and the top 100 webpages per topic analysed for applicability and accuracy of information. Overall 500 webpages were analysed. 42% were inapplicable to the question asked. Applicable accuracy rates were variable amongst the five terms: "breast cancer symptoms" 84%, "breast cancer care" 87%, "breast cancer stage" 88%, "breast cancer survival" 91% and "breast cancer signs" 78%. Educational websites were more likely to be accurate(p < 0.001) and interest group administered websites less likely to be accurate(p = 0.018) than other websites. Finding accurate breast cancer information on the internet is difficult due to large numbers of inapplicable unregulated websites preferentially returned via search engines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Academic Surgery, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Ireland. edelquinn@rcsi.ie
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Corrigan
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: McHugh
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Mullane
authors.forename: A D K
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Redmond
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet; D057386:Search Engine