Article type
Year
Abstract
Background:
Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei Province, in December 2019. There has been widespread concern and controversy about the treatment options for COVID-19. Information on the internet about the treatment of COVID-19 is endless and contradictory, so that the public cannot be very good at identifying effective information.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy, reliability and quality of online health information of treatment for patients with COVID-19.
Methods:
We searched the Baidu, Google and WeChat platforms on March 12, 2020, and each search selected the top 50 results for selection. In Baidu, the advanced search function was used; Google was searched using the Chinese and English search term "treatment of COVID-19"; WeChat platform used the mobile version of WeChat to search by "treatment of COVID-19" in the "Search" function, the scope of search is unlimited, and the search is sorted by the number of reads. We also conducted a supplemental search of the above platforms on March 21, 2020. THE DISCERN instrument was used to evaluate the accuracy, reliability and quality of the contents regarding the treatment of COVID-19.
Results:
In the search on March 12, 2020, 15 search results were finally included (of which, 10 by Baidu, 4 by Google, and 1 by WeChat), and then 16 search results were added by free search, and a total of 31 search results were included for accuracy, reliability and quality evaluation, and specific evaluation results will be presented at a later academic conference.
Conclusions:
By evaluating and analyzing the health information of COVID-19 treatments, this study hopes to improve the recognition of health information in the mass media and to report health information scientifically, so as to provide the public and patients with effective health information and assist them in making informed health decisions.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: None.
Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei Province, in December 2019. There has been widespread concern and controversy about the treatment options for COVID-19. Information on the internet about the treatment of COVID-19 is endless and contradictory, so that the public cannot be very good at identifying effective information.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy, reliability and quality of online health information of treatment for patients with COVID-19.
Methods:
We searched the Baidu, Google and WeChat platforms on March 12, 2020, and each search selected the top 50 results for selection. In Baidu, the advanced search function was used; Google was searched using the Chinese and English search term "treatment of COVID-19"; WeChat platform used the mobile version of WeChat to search by "treatment of COVID-19" in the "Search" function, the scope of search is unlimited, and the search is sorted by the number of reads. We also conducted a supplemental search of the above platforms on March 21, 2020. THE DISCERN instrument was used to evaluate the accuracy, reliability and quality of the contents regarding the treatment of COVID-19.
Results:
In the search on March 12, 2020, 15 search results were finally included (of which, 10 by Baidu, 4 by Google, and 1 by WeChat), and then 16 search results were added by free search, and a total of 31 search results were included for accuracy, reliability and quality evaluation, and specific evaluation results will be presented at a later academic conference.
Conclusions:
By evaluating and analyzing the health information of COVID-19 treatments, this study hopes to improve the recognition of health information in the mass media and to report health information scientifically, so as to provide the public and patients with effective health information and assist them in making informed health decisions.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: None.