Don’t Trust the Internet for Reliable Vertebroplasty Information

Not only is Internet data on vertebroplasty inadequate for proper patient education, it also is potentially misleading, with websites presenting benefits of the procedure rather than risks, according to data published in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research.

“The information available on the Internet clearly is not an acceptable substitute for the physician-patient relationship, with a majority of sites presenting information that we believe is of unacceptable quality for patient education,” Barrett Sullivan, B.S.E., of Case Western Reserve University, said.

Researchers studied the contents of 105 websites that carried information about vertebroplasty and evaluated them as excellent, high, moderate, low or unacceptable based on the source of each website’s authorship or sponsorship, its content, references cited, contact detail provided to set up an appointment and their certification status.

Overall, 7 percent of the websites evaluated received an excellent recommendation based on the quality and accuracy of the information provided, while 6 percent were of a high-quality rating and 11 percent were of moderate quality. Fifty-seven percent of the websites received an unacceptable rating.

Study results showed all 105 websites highlighted the benefits of vertebroplasty, but only 53 percent outlined any risks of the procedure. While 74 percent referenced appropriate indications, 45 percent discussed any contraindications and 51 percent mentioned alternative treatments.

Researchers also found that 27 percent of the websites used peer-reviewed literature and 41 percent offered experimental or non-cited data based on American populations.

“Appropriate discussion of a patient’s understanding of a procedure is critical, and physicians should make efforts to inquire about internet research, taking time to counsel patients regarding the limitations of internet information,” Sullivan said.