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Quantifying Discrepancies between the Internet and Academic Literature Regarding Robotic Prostatectomy
1Department of Urology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
Urology Practice
|August 18, 2023
Summary
Online information on robotic prostatectomy often highlights benefits but rarely mentions risks or cites peer-reviewed literature. Using more technical search terms improves the quality of online medical information for robotic prostatectomy.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Surgical Technology
- Medical Informatics
Background:
- Online medical information quality and accuracy vary significantly.
- Assessed online content specifically for robotic prostatectomy procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate the content and validity of online information regarding robotic prostatectomy.
- Compare the impact of different search terms on the quality of results.
Main Methods:
- Conducted Google, Yahoo, and Bing searches using "robotic prostatectomy."
- Evaluated the first 50 websites per engine for authorship, content, and validity.
- Performed a second Google search using "robotic assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy" to compare search term effectiveness.
Main Results:
- Most sites (78%) promoted benefits, while few (16.7%) cited literature or mentioned risks (34%).
- A significant portion (43.3%) claimed faster return of continence and potency.
- A more technical search term increased mentions of risks (p < 0.001), procedure details (p = 0.048), and literature references (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Online content for robotic prostatectomy may not align with current academic literature.
- Claims of faster functional recovery are often made without strong supporting evidence.
- Employing precise search terms can enhance the quality of online medical information, aiding physician guidance.
