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The Internet as a source of information on breast augmentation
J B Gordon1, L R Barot, A L Fahey
1Division of Plastic Surgery, Cooper Hospital University Medical Center, Camden, NJ, USA.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
|February 15, 2001
Summary
Finding reliable breast augmentation information online is challenging for patients. Most websites offer limited, biased content, with few providing comprehensive details on procedures or complications.
Area of Science:
- Medical Informatics
- Plastic Surgery
Background:
- The internet is a primary source of health information for the public.
- Patients seeking information on cosmetic procedures like breast augmentation rely heavily on online resources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the quality and accuracy of online information regarding breast augmentation for laypersons.
- To assess the suitability of general search engines and authoritative health websites as sources for breast augmentation information.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated top search engine results (Excite, AOL, Yahoo) for "breast augmentation" using plastic surgeon expertise.
- Assessed 17 "authoritative" health websites by searching their internal engines for breast augmentation information.
Main Results:
- Most general search engine results were physician websites with limited, often biased, procedural details.
- Less than half of reviewed sites included photos, predominantly showing "good" outcomes.
- Only 15% of sites were deemed acceptable for patient recommendation.
- Authoritative health sites provided minimal relevant information, with none offering complete, accurate details.
Conclusions:
- The internet currently presents significant challenges for laypersons seeking comprehensive and unbiased breast augmentation information.
- Existing online resources often lack critical details on complications and surgical techniques, hindering informed patient decision-making.