성조숙증에 관한 인터넷 웹사이트 평가 및 분석

초록

Purpose: To evaluate the quality and scientific accuracy of internet information regarding to precocious puberty. Methods: We identified web sites by entering "precocious puberty" or "early puberty" into 5 search engines on May to July 2010. The top 50 web sites from each search engine were included, excluding websites which were duplicate, inaccessible, or had poor information(containing less than two subject of definition, causes, diagnosis, treatment), 60 sites were identified. We classified the websites according to web site author, evaluated the quality with DISCERN instrument, scientific accuracy with information scores(IS) ranging from 0 to 30 points. Results: Analysis of the quality with DISCRN instrument showed that the majority of web sites received low overall ratings regardless of the authors. Accessing the scientific accuracy, the mean IS of oriental web sites(9.06) was significantly low compared to that of academic authors(23.44), physician authors(22.14), commercial authors(24.50), other authors(28.00) Conclusion: With the exception of oriental websites, scientifically accurate information was provided on the websites regarding to precocious puberty. Most of analyzed websites showed low reliability. It is important to provide reliable information as well as scientifically accurate information.