Evaluation of Quality of Website Information about Lumbar Herniated Intervertebral Disc / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the information quality of websites that provide information about herniated intervertebral discs (HIVD) and examined the correlation between the information quality score (IQS) and the rank of popularity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 1 to May 31, 2005, of 308 homepages that had been searched on three search engines using the key words (vertebra, disc, lumbago, HIVD), 150 homepages with information about HIVD were surveyed. The informational quality score of each homepage was examined according to the existence or nonexistence of 25 criteria and compared the IQS according to the discipline and operating scale. The homepages were rated according to the rank of popularity and the correlations between their point of popularity and informational quality were assessed. RESULTS: The mean IQS of the 150 homepages were 8.5 (+/-6.4) points, IQS of 94 (62.6%) homepages were <10 points. There were no significant differences between the IQS of orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery (p=0.985). However, the IQS of oriental medicine were significantly lower than orthopaedic surgery (p<0.001) and neurosurgery (p<0.001). There was no significant correlation between the popularity and IQS (p=0.256). CONCLUSION: Proper guidelines and certification of the homepage that provide information about HIVD by the medical association are needed.