Meghan K Wally1, Thomas Bemenderfer, R Randall McKnight, Jacob D Gorbaty, Kyle Jeray, Rachel B Seymour, Madhav A Karunakar. 1. From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute, Charlotte, NC (Dr. Wally, Dr. Bemenderfer, Dr. McKnight, Dr. Gorbaty, Dr. Seymour, and Dr. Karunakar); the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Prisma Health-Upstate; Greenville, SC (Dr. Jeray); and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, Greenville, SC (Dr. Jeray).
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: We aimed to assess the quality and content of websites addressing orthopaedic conditions affecting older adults, emphasizing osteoporosis and fragility fracture. METHODS: Ten diagnoses were chosen. The transparency of information was assessed via the Health On the Net (HON) score; information content was assessed via diagnosis-specific grading templates. A total of 140 websites (14 per diagnosis) were reviewed by three raters. HON scores and information quality were compared by diagnosis, website type, and website source. The correlation between HON score and information quality score was calculated. RESULTS: Most websites were commercial (59.3%). Cronbach alpha for Hall scores exceeded the a priori threshold of 0.7. Analysis proceeded using averages across raters. HON score was significantly associated with higher content scores (r = 0.56; P < 0.0001). Content scores ranged from 21.1 to 59.4. Content scores differed significantly by diagnosis (P = 0.0008) and website source (P < 0.0001). DISCUSSION: The quality and content of websites is highly variable for osteoporosis and fragility fracture diagnoses. Patients should be encouraged to access reputable sites, including sites displaying a HON seal. Academic and medical specialty societies demonstrate opportunity for improvement of their own websites and might be able to lead efforts to increase accessibility of high-quality content.
INTRODUCTION: We aimed to assess the quality and content of websites addressing orthopaedic conditions affecting older adults, emphasizing osteoporosis and fragility fracture. METHODS: Ten diagnoses were chosen. The transparency of information was assessed via the Health On the Net (HON) score; information content was assessed via diagnosis-specific grading templates. A total of 140 websites (14 per diagnosis) were reviewed by three raters. HON scores and information quality were compared by diagnosis, website type, and website source. The correlation between HON score and information quality score was calculated. RESULTS: Most websites were commercial (59.3%). Cronbach alpha for Hall scores exceeded the a priori threshold of 0.7. Analysis proceeded using averages across raters. HON score was significantly associated with higher content scores (r = 0.56; P < 0.0001). Content scores ranged from 21.1 to 59.4. Content scores differed significantly by diagnosis (P = 0.0008) and website source (P < 0.0001). DISCUSSION: The quality and content of websites is highly variable for osteoporosis and fragility fracture diagnoses. Patients should be encouraged to access reputable sites, including sites displaying a HON seal. Academic and medical specialty societies demonstrate opportunity for improvement of their own websites and might be able to lead efforts to increase accessibility of high-quality content.
Authors: James S Starman; F Keith Gettys; Jason A Capo; James E Fleischli; H James Norton; Madhav A Karunakar Journal: J Bone Joint Surg Am Date: 2010-07-07 Impact factor: 5.284
Authors: Gregory J Nason; Joseph F Baker; Damien P Byrne; Jacques Noel; David Moore; Patrick J Kiely Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2012-10-01 Impact factor: 3.468
Authors: Martin Kelly; Deirdre M Seoighe; Joseph F Baker; Jim Kennedy; Damien P Byrne; Kieran O'Shea Journal: J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg Date: 2014-10-29 Impact factor: 2.740
Authors: Emily J Monroe; Ryan S Selley; Mufaddal M Gombera; Rueben Nair; Alexander Martusiewicz; Robert A Christian; Guido Marra; Matthew D Saltzman Journal: J Surg Orthop Adv Date: 2019