title: Cervical cancer, human papillomavirus and vaccines: assessment of the information retrieved from general knowledge websites in Chile.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cervical cancer is the most common gynaecologic malignancy worldwide and is the sixth cause of cancer death in Chile. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for most cervical cancers. Individuals seeking basic information about HPV frequently turn to health information websites. We hypothesized that some of their data may be inaccurate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparative analysis of information.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyze the content of highly accessed websites such as the Spanish version of Wikipedia and Yahoo Answers through the application of a questionnaire, as well as a website managed by the Chilean Ministry of Health (Minsal). The accuracy of each answer was confirmed by comparison with information retrieved from articles published by indexed journals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The information provided by the Spanish version of Wikipedia was accurate; nevertheless a few omissions were detected. The quality of the information provided by the Spanish version of Yahoo Answers was inaccurate and confusing. The Minsal website lacked important information on several topics about HPV even though it is managed and endorsed by the government.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest periodical content reviews to increase the completeness, transparency and correctness of the website.
authors.affiliation: Fundación Ciencia & Vida - Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Av. Zañartu 1482, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.affiliation: Fundación Ciencia & Vida - Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Av. Zañartu 1482, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile; Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andrés Bello, Republica 217, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krauskopf
authors.affiliation: Fundación Ciencia & Vida - Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Av. Zañartu 1482, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile; Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Biológicas, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Bernardo O Higgins, General Gana 1780, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Villota
authors.affiliation: Fundación Ciencia & Vida - Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Av. Zañartu 1482, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile; Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andrés Bello, Republica 217, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Burzio
authors.affiliation: Fundación Ciencia & Vida - Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Av. Zañartu 1482, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile; Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andrés Bello, Republica 217, Santiago, Chile. Electronic address: jvillegas@bioschile.cl.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Villegas
mesh_terms: D002677:Chile; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000592:standards*; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines
keywords: Cervical cancer; Human papillomavirus; Minsal; Vaccines; Wikipedia