A Portal to Validated Websites on Cosmetic Surgery

Let the buyer beware: Content analysis of cosmetic surgery websites' provider information

Given that many consumers do not understand any licensed physician can perform cosmetic surgery, cosmetic procedure advertising regulation is lacking and differs by state; and consumers often search for providers online and rely on the site's information. Cosmetic surgery websites have the potential to be a threat to consumers' safety and health. This study asked what types of physician information do cosmetic surgery websites supply. A content analysis was conducted with 873 physicians' information provided on cosmetic surgery websites in the top 10 cosmetic surgery cities, finding members of plastic surgery associations and core providers were more likely to list medical qualifications. All physicians were unlikely to list experience. Two-thirds stated their specific board certification, and 15% to 30% in each city failed to follow their state's regulations for disclosing board certification. The study concludes by suggesting national ethical guidelines.

The influence of social media and easily accessible online information on the aesthetic plastic surgery practice: literature review and our own experience

INTRODUCTION

Patients interested in aesthetic plastic surgery procedures increasingly seek advice on social media and rely on easily accessible online information. The investigatory goal was to determine the impact of this phenomenon on the everyday aesthetic plastic surgery practice.

METHODS AND PATIENTS

Five hundred consecutive patients completed a questionnaire prior to their consultation with a plastic surgeon at our clinic. A questionnaire was also completed by 128 plastic surgeons practising in 19 different countries. A literature review was performed.

RESULTS

Almost all patients (95%) used the internet to collect information prior to consultation, for 68% of them it being their first search method. Social media were used by 46% of patients and 40% of these were strongly influenced when choosing a specific doctor. The majority of plastic surgeons (85%) thought the information found on social media could lead to unrealistic expectations. However, 45% of plastic surgeons believed that their consultations became easier after the advent of social media, 29% found them more difficult. A literature review showed a high percentage of poor quality internet websites regarding plastic surgery and an increase in use of social media among plastic surgeons.

CONCLUSION

The internet and social media play an important and growing role in plastic surgery. This results in more informed patients but may create unrealistic expectations. Even if the internet provides ample information, it cannot replace the face-to-face consultation, which always should remain a detailed process, covering both risks and limitations of alternative procedures. Available literature on how social media influences the medical practice is still scarce and further research is needed.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Development and validation of a tool to evaluate the quality of medical education websites in pathology

BACKGROUND

The exponential use of the internet as a learning resource coupled with varied quality of many websites, lead to a need to identify suitable websites for teaching purposes.

AIM

The aim of this study is to develop and to validate a tool, which evaluates the quality of undergraduate medical educational websites; and apply it to the field of pathology.

METHODS

A tool was devised through several steps of item generation, reduction, weightage, pilot testing, post-pilot modification of the tool and validating the tool. Tool validation included measurement of inter-observer reliability; and generation of criterion related, construct related and content related validity. The validated tool was subsequently tested by applying it to a population of pathology websites.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Reliability testing showed a high internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92), high inter-observer reliability (Pearson's correlation r = 0.88), intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.85 and κ =0.75. It showed high criterion related, construct related and content related validity. The tool showed moderately high concordance with the gold standard (κ =0.61); 92.2% sensitivity, 67.8% specificity, 75.6% positive predictive value and 88.9% negative predictive value. The validated tool was applied to 278 websites; 29.9% were rated as recommended, 41.0% as recommended with caution and 29.1% as not recommended.

CONCLUSION

A systematic tool was devised to evaluate the quality of websites for medical educational purposes. The tool was shown to yield reliable and valid inferences through its application to pathology websites.