Alon Y Avidan1, Ronald D Chervin. 1. Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0117, USA. avidan@umich.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Internet is a rich but unregulated source of information, and no studies have evaluated sleep medicine content designed for patient or public use. OBJECTIVE: To examine how the Epworth Sleepiness Scale is presented on the World Wide Web. METHODS: We searched the web with eight search engines, in November 2000, for the terms 'ESS' or 'Epworth Sleepiness Scale' and examined every site that listed the full ESS. RESULTS: The 91 sites were sponsored by academic institutions (n=11), private medical groups (34), corporations (21), and web information services (25). No information on interpretation of ESS results was given by 24 (26%) of the sites; 37 (41%) of the sites stated that a score greater than 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 merits consultation with a clinician. Few sites mentioned that insufficient sleep and depression are among the most common causes of excessive sleepiness, or that the meaning and value of the ESS are somewhat controversial. CONCLUSION: The ESS is widely available on web sites designed for public use, but information that would allow appropriate interpretation of results is often lacking, misleading, or incomplete.
BACKGROUND: The Internet is a rich but unregulated source of information, and no studies have evaluated sleep medicine content designed for patient or public use. OBJECTIVE: To examine how the Epworth Sleepiness Scale is presented on the World Wide Web. METHODS: We searched the web with eight search engines, in November 2000, for the terms 'ESS' or 'Epworth Sleepiness Scale' and examined every site that listed the full ESS. RESULTS: The 91 sites were sponsored by academic institutions (n=11), private medical groups (34), corporations (21), and web information services (25). No information on interpretation of ESS results was given by 24 (26%) of the sites; 37 (41%) of the sites stated that a score greater than 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 merits consultation with a clinician. Few sites mentioned that insufficient sleep and depression are among the most common causes of excessive sleepiness, or that the meaning and value of the ESS are somewhat controversial. CONCLUSION: The ESS is widely available on web sites designed for public use, but information that would allow appropriate interpretation of results is often lacking, misleading, or incomplete.