Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30882358›Full record

ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2019

Searching for Information on the Risks of Combined Hormonal Contraceptives on the Internet: A Qualitative Study Across Six European Countries.

Paula Gomes Alves, Irene Petersen, Fiona Stevenson

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Paula Gomes AlveseHealth Unit, Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-1406-5724
Irene PetersenDepartment of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-0037-7524
Fiona StevensoneHealth Unit, Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-2139-2309

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSearching for health information online is increasingly common and is an obvious source of information about oral combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) and their risks. However, little is known about how publicly available websites address the risks of CHCs, particularly venous thromboembolism (VTE).

objectiveThe aim was to explore the information available to women about VTE and other risks of CHCs on websites available through commonly used search engines.

methodsA qualitative study was conducted to explore whether and how websites about CHCs in Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, and the United Kingdom make reference to VTE and other CHC risks. A systematic search procedure was adopted across the six countries, based on relevant keywords. The search was carried out using the Google search engine by fluent/native speakers of each language. A content analysis approach was conducted to extract information from the selected websites.

resultsA total of 357 websites were reviewed. Nearly all (343/357, 96.1%) the websites mentioned VTE as a risk of CHCs, with approximately half referring to other side effects as well. One-fifth (92/357, 25.8%) of the websites provided suggestions about the best contraceptive method to use, and only a minority (23/357, 6.4%) recommended women discuss CHCs with their health professionals. Sites were generally run by the media (110/357 30.8%) or medical services from nongovernmental organizations (140/357, 39.2%). Only a minority of websites referred to organizations such as the European Medicines Agency (11/357, 3.1%).

conclusionsDespite the large number of websites containing information about oral CHCs and their risks, particularly VTE, only a limited number referred to information from accredited health agency sources. We argue this is a missed opportunity for accredited health agencies to share high-quality information to assist women using CHCs to make informed decisions about contraception.

Indexed as

Information Seeking BehaviorContraceptives, Oral, CombinedEuropeFemaleHumansInternetQualitative ResearchYoung AdultContraceptives, Oral, Combinedcontent analysishealth informationinformation sourcesinternetoral combined hormonal contraceptivesqualitative researchrisksvenous thromboembolism

Identifiers

PMID30882358
PMCPMC6441861

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.