Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: WikiProject medicine is a partnership between Wikipedia and Cochrane where the goal is to provide reliable and up-to-date health information. As Cochrane authors of a review on the effect of alcohol on blood pressure, we decided to contribute to editing the Wikipedia pages on alcohol because of its potential impact on public health. Alcohol is consumed by approximately 2.3 billion people worldwide and has potential harms and benefits. In large amounts it is harmful and increases the risk of hypertension, cancer and behavioral disorders. In smaller amounts it is thought to reduce adverse cardiovascular events and mortality. Providing the best available evidence on the harms and benefits of alcohol on Wikipedia has the potential for helping many people worldwide.
Objectives: On Wikipedia articles on alcohol-
1. To detect incorrect information/citations and correct them.
2. To ensure evidence from Cochrane reviews is included.
Methods: We searched for the alcohol related Wikipedia articles with a focus on alcohol’s pathophysiology, it’s effect on blood pressure, and its effect on cardiovascular risk and mortality. We looked for Cochrane systematic reviews in the Cochrane library and whenever possible, we incorporated that evidence in the articles. If there was no Cochrane systematic review on a relevant topic, we looked for other systematic reviews and articles. We also ensured that the Wikipedia information was easily understandable by the people with no scientific background.
Results: So far, we have added 31 citations and over 1500 words to these Wikipedia pages. After finishing our edit, we monitored the pageview statistics and observed notable increase in number of views. During the editing process we noticed some misleading information. For example, one of the articles mentioned that alcohol increases good cholesterol/ HDL (High density lipoprotein). We corrected this to be more precise, that it has only been found to be true for a specific dose and population. Moreover, some of the reported information in the pages did not have any citations. We have learned a lot from this experience including removal of some of the details of our edits and randomized controlled trials related citations by one Wikipedia editor.
Conclusions: Wikipedia is the preferred source of health-related information. While authoring a Cochrane review we discovered the Wikipedia information about alcohol’s health effects was insufficient and in need of improvement. We hope that our experience will encourage other Cochrane authors to contribute to and improve Wikipedia information.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: Our initiative will help conveying correct and up-to-date information to patients and health-care consumers through Wikipedia.
Objectives: On Wikipedia articles on alcohol-
1. To detect incorrect information/citations and correct them.
2. To ensure evidence from Cochrane reviews is included.
Methods: We searched for the alcohol related Wikipedia articles with a focus on alcohol’s pathophysiology, it’s effect on blood pressure, and its effect on cardiovascular risk and mortality. We looked for Cochrane systematic reviews in the Cochrane library and whenever possible, we incorporated that evidence in the articles. If there was no Cochrane systematic review on a relevant topic, we looked for other systematic reviews and articles. We also ensured that the Wikipedia information was easily understandable by the people with no scientific background.
Results: So far, we have added 31 citations and over 1500 words to these Wikipedia pages. After finishing our edit, we monitored the pageview statistics and observed notable increase in number of views. During the editing process we noticed some misleading information. For example, one of the articles mentioned that alcohol increases good cholesterol/ HDL (High density lipoprotein). We corrected this to be more precise, that it has only been found to be true for a specific dose and population. Moreover, some of the reported information in the pages did not have any citations. We have learned a lot from this experience including removal of some of the details of our edits and randomized controlled trials related citations by one Wikipedia editor.
Conclusions: Wikipedia is the preferred source of health-related information. While authoring a Cochrane review we discovered the Wikipedia information about alcohol’s health effects was insufficient and in need of improvement. We hope that our experience will encourage other Cochrane authors to contribute to and improve Wikipedia information.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: Our initiative will help conveying correct and up-to-date information to patients and health-care consumers through Wikipedia.
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