Can parents believe websites' information about methylphenidate's side effects?
Tom Arsac England1, David Tuthill2
1Cardiff Medical School, Cardiff, UK Tom_munich@outlook.de.
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|March 31, 2021
Summary
Most websites provide accurate information on methylphenidate side effects for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, some online sources list excessive adverse effects not found in official guidelines.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects 5% of the global population.
- Methylphenidate is a first-line ADHD treatment for children over 5 in the UK.
- Families heavily rely on the internet for information on medication side effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the accuracy of online information regarding methylphenidate's adverse effects.
- To compare online methylphenidate side effect data with a recognized medical standard.
Main Methods:
- The British National Formulary for Children (BNFC) served as the gold standard for methylphenidate side effects.
- The top 10 websites from nine search engines were analyzed for accuracy.
- 25 unique websites were evaluated against the BNFC list.
Main Results:
- 24% of websites accurately listed only BNFC-approved side effects.
- 76% of websites included at least one side effect not listed in the BNFC.
- Six websites documented over five unlisted side effects.
Conclusions:
- Accurate and accessible information on methylphenidate is crucial due to its widespread use.
- While most websites offer reliable data, some present an excessive number of unverified side effects.
- Ensuring the quality of online health information for ADHD treatments is essential.
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