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UPJ INSIGHT Quality of Web-Based Patient Information on Robotic Radical Cystectomy Remains Poor: A Standardized Assessment
By: Savio Domenico Pandolfo, MD; Achille Aveta, MD; Davide Loizzo, MD; Fabio Crocerossa, MD; Roberto La Rocca, MD; Francesco Del Giudice, MD; Benjamin I. Chung, MD; Zhenjie Wu, MD; Giuseppe Lucarelli, MD; Vincenzo Mirone, MD; Ciro Imbimbo, MD; Riccardo Autorino, MD, PhD | Posted on: 01 Oct 2022
Pandolfo SD, Aveta A, Loizzo D, et al. Quality of web-based patient information on robotic radical cystectomy remains poor: a standardized assessment. Urol Pract. 2022;9(5)498-503.
Study Need and Importance
The Internet has become a central source of health-related information for patients. Over 70% of Internet users look for health-related information online to get a second opinion. However, websites are not subject to peer review and, for this reason, the information they provide can be largely unsubstantiated. The first analysis of Internet-based information on robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) was reported in 2011. Over the past decade this procedure has gained an increasing role in the management of bladder cancer patients. Therefore, we sought to assess the quality of RARC-related content that can be found online by using standardized validated tools.
What We Found
Despite the increased clinical implementation of this procedure, the overall quality of web-based information about RARC remains poor. The readability of the content provided by websites is very low. Academic and physician websites also fail to offer good quality information. Commercial websites may have a more patient-focused approach, as they use more “lay terms.”
Limitations
There are some limitations to note in our study. First, search results may change frequently considering the dynamic nature of the Internet. In addition, even if we used the most common search terms, some patients might use different words to look for information about RARC.
Interpretation for Patient Care
The overall quality of web-based information about RARC remains poor. An effort should be made by different stakeholders, especially academic and physician websites, to offer trustworthy information that is reliable and readable for a large audience. This will enable patients and their families to validly consent to decisions regarding the treatment and management of bladder disease.
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