Assessing the Quality of Infertility Resources on the World Wide Web: Tools to Guide Clients Through the Maze of Fact and Fiction

Abstract

The Internet has become a major source of health information for women, but information placed on the World Wide Web does not routinely undergo a peer review process before dissemination. In this study, we present an analysis of 197 infertility-related Web sites for quality and accountability, using JAMA's minimal core standards for responsible print. Only 2% of the web sites analyzed met all four recommended standards, and 50.8% failed to report any of the four. Commercial web sites were more likely to fail to meet minimum standards (71.2%) than those with educational (46.8%) or supportive (29.8%) elements. Web sites with educational and informational components were most common (70.6%), followed by commercial sites (52.8%) and sites that offered a forum for infertility support and activism (28.9%). Internet resources available to infertile patients are at best variable. The current state of infertility-related materials on the World Wide Web offers unprecedented opportunities to improve services to a growing number of e-health users. Because of variations in quality of site content, women's health clinicians must assume responsibility for a new role as information monitor. This study provides assessment tools clinicians can apply and share with clients.

Blogging about Family Building (Infertility, Pregnancy Loss, Adoption, Pregnancy, Trying to Conceive): Content and Blogging Motivations

“…While research on blogs discussing infertility and other FB topics is currently limited, it has been documented that women diagnosed with infertility are more active users of the Internet than women without infertility (Okamura, Bernstein, & Fidler, 2002;Weissman, Gotlieb, Ward, Greenblatt, & Casper, 2000). Some past studies have targeted other forms of online support such as online message boards devoted to infertility.…”

“…In fact, blogs about pregnancy, birth, and fertility are beginning to be recognized as information resources, while still being described as potentially substandard or contradictory to more evidence-based yet still easily accessible information resources (Alati-it & Pinches, 2014;Okamura et al, 2002;Wischmann, 2008). Despite precautions against the credibility of information acquired from blogs, blogs may hold special appeal over contact with medical professionals for those seeking to safely connect with others experiencing struggles similar to their own (Neal & McKenzie, 2011).…”

The Pain and the Promise of Unfilled Dreams: Infertile Couples

“…Chat groups are found on the RESOLVE Web site, with topics such as "Survival Strategies: Balancing Infertility, Marriage, and Life," "Unexplained Infertility," and "Shared Risks" (National Infertility Association, 2004e). It should be noted that only 2% of 197 infertility-related Web sites met the standards for quality and accountability (Okamura, Bernstein, & Fidler, 2002).…”

Do Infertile Women and Government Staff Differ in the Evaluation of Infertility‐related Web Sites?

“…In addition, online contact with other patients, patient organizations, and health care providers can offer comfort and support (Epstein, Rosenberg, Grant, & Hemenway, 2002). However, the use of the Internet for health care has inherent difficulties, since not all of the information is reliable and some Web sites have readability problems (Berland et al, 2001;Impicciatore, Pandolfini, Casella, & Bonati, 1997;Okamura, Bernstein, & Fidler, 2002;Suarez-Almazor, Kendall, & Dorgan, 2001). …”