Assessing the Quality of Internet Health Information Using DISCERN / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the quality of health information on the internet using DISCERN. METHODS: Breast cancer, asthma, depression, obesity were selected to be the tracer conditions of the health information. To collect information about these 4 tracer conditions, we first select top 9 popular Korean websites which provide health information in January 2004. Nine websites include 6 commercial, 3 hospital. To compare quality of internet health information provided by Korean public institute and other countries', we select Healthguide in Korea, MEDLINEplus in USA and NHS direct online in UK. Overall, a total of 45 heath information provided by 10 Korean, 2 other countries' websites were evaluated by two nurses independently using DISCERN. DISCERN is a heath information quality assessment instrument consists of sixteen five-point- scale item questionnaire. The score was compared between Korean commercial and hospital websites and between Korean public institute's website and those of USA and UK. RESULTS: Korean internet health information scored 2.0 for overall quality score. Internet health information of commercial websites scored 1.8 for overall quality score that was lower than hospital websites(2.4). Internet health information provided by Korean public institute scored 3.0 compared 3.3(MEDLINEplus) and 3.8(NHS direct online). CONCLUSION: Internet health information in Korea hardly meets DISCERN standard that means Korean health information have a problem in quality. Especially, Internet health information of commercial websites needs relatively urgent improvement in quality.

Bilateral Congenital Absence of the Long Head of Biceps Brachii Tendon in Shoulder Joints: A case report / 대한정형외과학회잡지

The role of the long head of biceps brachii tendon in the stahilization of the head of the humerus is a highly interesting issue in recent studies. But, it is not well understood. Congenital absence of biceps long head tendon ot the hilateral shoulder joint is very rare and on review of literatures, we could not find any case reported. We experienced one case which was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and arthroscopic examination of the shoulder, and report it with review of literatures.