InfertilityTestosterone Replacement Therapy and the Internet: An Assessment of Providers' Health-related Web Site Information Content
Section snippets
Materials and Methods
We used a methodology for our Internet search based on systematic literature reviews, using standardized search string techniques; our methodology was in accord with the American Public Health Association criteria regarding the assessment of quality of health information on the Internet.15 We searched English-language Internet Web sites in November 2013 using the search engine Google. The search engine Google was selected based on contemporary market data showing that Google is the most
Results
The results for 75 provider Web sites offering TRT were assessed. Sixteen Web sites were excluded because they were duplicates of already included Web sites. Two sites were excluded because they lacked evidence of the provision of TRT. Figure 2 displays the type of leadership at the clinic Web sites we assessed. A total of 27 of the 75 (36%) Web-advertised TRT clinics were directed by nonphysicians. Thirty-five clinics (47%) were directed by nonurology, nonendocrinology physicians, and only 13
Comment
As patients increasingly turn to the Internet for medical information, the quality and quantity of this information is critically important. As noted by the American Public Health Association, health-related Web sites often “blur the lines” between providing objective, factual, medical information vs providing promotional content and advertising material without proper disclosures.15 Patients using the Internet may be unaware of the differences and might be unable to discriminate between these
Conclusion
The Internet remains an open public forum for the wide-ranging dissemination of information. Web sites for clinical centers discussing the therapeutic uses of TRT often lack accurate health information as called for by the American Public Health Association. Unfortunately, the line between health education and advertising or promotion is often blurred within these provider Web sites. Web sites for clinical centers managed by either nonspecialist physicians or providers who are not physicians
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Financial Disclosure: The authors declare that they have no relevant financial interests.