Do cancer-specific websites meet patient's information needs?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate commonly used cancer websites' information provision, we developed and applied an Information Comprehensiveness Tool to breast and prostate cancer websites.


METHODS
We first collated questions from a systematic literature review on patient information needs. We then classified the questions in terms of spectrum of care, theme, and nature of question. "Breast cancer" and "prostate cancer" were typed into Google, and websites listed on the first page of results were selected. Two researchers, blind to each others' scores, assessed the same websites using the coding system. Each question was scored on a 3-point scale as not (0%), partially (50%) and fully (100%) answered by two researchers. Average scores were calculated across all questions. Inter-rater reliability was assessed.


RESULTS
We identified 79 general, 5 breast, and 5 prostate cancer questions. Inter-rater reliability was good, with an intraclass coefficient of 0.756 (95% CIs 0.729-0.781). 17 questions were not answered thoroughly by any website. Questions about "future planning", "monitoring", and "decision-making" were discussed least. Biomedical questions scored highest.


CONCLUSIONS
More comprehensive information needs to be provided on breast and prostate cancer websites.


CONCLUSIONS
This ICT can improve cancer information online and enable patients to engage more actively regarding their information needs.
Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, UK. Electronic address: Emily.warren@lshtm.ac.uk.
Emily
E
Warren
Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, UK. Electronic address: Katharine.footman@lshtm.ac.uk.
Katharine
K
Footman
LSE Health and Social Care, London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE, UK. Electronic address: m.tinelli@lse.ac.uk.
Michela
M
Tinelli
Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, UK. Electronic address: martin.mckee@lshtm.ac.uk.
Martin
M
McKee
Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, UK. Electronic address: cecile.knai@lshtm.ac.uk.
Cécile
C
Knai
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms
Online health information; Patient education; Patient information needs