Evaluation of cancer information on the Internet

Abstract

In a review of medical information regarding a single cancer topic, the authors found abundant nonpeer-reviewed material and a 6% rate of factual inaccuracies. Therefore the authors recommend that physicians maintain an open mind regarding searches done by patients and questions raised by those searches, and suggest that physicians take an active role in identifying or creating patient information Web sites and in educating the lay public regarding variations in the quality of information and the contribution of the peer review process. See also pages 373–4.