Evaluating the quality of internet information for bariatric surgery
1Department of General Surgery, Royal Berkshire Hospital, London Road, Reading, RG1 5AN, UK.
Background:
The internet is frequently used by patients seeking information on bariatric surgery. This study aims to evaluate the quality of this information.
Method:
The terms 'weight loss'; 'weight loss surgery', 'obesity surgery' and 'bariatric surgery' were searched for in three common search engines. The quality of websites retrieved was assessed with the DISCERN Plus tool.
Results:
Thirty websites were assessed. The range of scores was 23-66 out of 80. On average, the quality of websites was of 'poor' to 'fair' quality.
Conclusion:
The quality of information is highly variable, and on average of poor, or fair quality. Healthcare professionals should be aware of this when discussing bariatric surgery with patients who have sought information on the internet.
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