Who provides physicians with advice over the internet? A study of a pediatric subspecialty discussion group

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Pediatric Nephrology
• Online Physician Communities

Background:

• Physicians increasingly utilize internet-based platforms for professional advice.
• The reliability and qualifications of contributors on these medical forums remain largely unexamined.
• Online physician communities offer a rapid method for information exchange.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability and qualifications of advice provided on a pediatric nephrology online discussion group.
• To assess the credentials of frequent respondents on the "PEDNEPH" bulletin board.
• To determine if participation in online medical forums correlates with expertise.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 50 questions and 113 responses over a 6-month period on the "PEDNEPH" forum.
• Identification and credential verification of 56 respondents providing advice.
• Assessment of respondents' publication records and board certifications.

Main Results:

• Only 27% of responses came from individuals with recent, relevant peer-reviewed publications.
• Among the top 8 advice providers, only 3 held current board certification in pediatric nephrology.
• The most frequent advisor had no indexed publications or citations.

Conclusions:

• Participation in online physician forums does not guarantee formal qualifications or expertise.
• The reliability of patient management advice from such platforms requires critical evaluation.
• Further research is needed to establish standards for online medical advice platforms.