Using the Google™ Search Engine for Health Information: Is There a Problem? Case Study: Supplements for Cancer

被引：13
|
作者：
Cai, Hannah C. [1 ,2 ]
King, Leanne E. [3 ]
Dwyer, Johanna T. [1 ,2 ,4 ,5 ]
机构：
[1] Tufts Univ, Tufts Med Ctr, Frances Stern Nutr Ctr, Boston, MA 02111 USA
[2] Tufts Univ, Friedman Sch Nutr Sci & Policy, Boston, MA 02111 USA
[3] Cone Hlth, Greensboro, NC 27401 USA
[4] Tufts Univ, Tufts Med Sch, Dept Med, Boston, MA 02111 USA
[5] Tufts Univ, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutr Res Ctr Aging, Boston, MA 02111 USA
来源：
CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN NUTRITION | 2021年 / 5卷 / 02期
关键词：
Health Information Quality Index (HIQI); Google search; ranking; authoritative information; commercial; advertisement; online; nutrition; ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE USE; COMPLEMENTARY; READABILITY; QUALITY;
D O I：
10.1093/cdn/nzab002
中图分类号：
R15 [营养卫生、食品卫生]; TS201 [基础科学];
学科分类号：
100403 ;
摘要：
We assessed the quality of online health and nutrition information using a Google (TM) search on "supplements for cancer". Search results were scored using the Health Information Quality Index (HIQI), a quality-rating tool consisting of 12 objective criteria related to website domain, lack of commercial aspects, and authoritative nature of the health and nutrition information provided. Possible scores ranged from 0 (lowest) to 12 ("perfect" or highest quality). After eliminating irrelevant results, the remaining 160 search results had median and mean scores of 8. One-quarter of the results were of high quality (score of 10-12). There was no correlation between high-quality scores and early appearance in the sequence of search results, where results are presumably more visible. Also, 496 advertisements, over twice the number of search results, appeared. We conclude that the Google (TM) search engine may have shortcomings when used to obtain information on dietary supplements and cancer.
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页数：7
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