SynthesisJournal of medical Internet research2021
Using the Ensuring Quality Information for Patients Tool to Assess Patient Information on Appendicitis Websites: Systematic Search and Evaluation.
Synthesis in Journal of medical Internet research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Online Information on Lymphedema: Systematic Review of the Quality of Online Patient Resources.Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education · 2026Pooled it
- Quality assessment of online patient information on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy using the modified Ensuring Quality Information for Patients tool.Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England · 2024Pooled it
- Evaluating large language models for myocardial infarction public health education: a comparative study on information quality, transparency and readability.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Can large language models be trusted? Reliability and readability of responses to perinatal depression FAQs.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Observational
- [Internet resources on plantar fasciitis : German-language analysis of the information content of digital sourcess].Orthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2025Review
- Evaluation of accuracy, quality, and readability of information on hypothyroidism provided by different artificial intelligence chatbot models.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- How Useful are Current Chatbots Regarding Urology Patient Information? Comparison of the Ten Most Popular Chatbots' Responses About Female Urinary Incontinence.Journal of medical systems · 2024Article
- Patients' attitudes toward negative appendectomies and surgery for suspected appendicitis: a qualitative interview study.Surgical endoscopy · 2024Article
- Evaluation of the Quality and Readability of Web-Based Information Regarding Foreign Bodies of the Ear, Nose, and Throat: Qualitative Content Analysis.JMIR formative research · 2024Article
- Evaluation of information accuracy and clarity: ChatGPT responses to the most frequently asked questions about premature ejaculation.Sexual medicine · 2024Article
- Quality of Web-Based Sickle Cell Disease Resources for Health Care Transition: Website Content Analysis.JMIR pediatrics and parenting · 2023Article
- Reliability of Medical Information Provided by ChatGPT: Assessment Against Clinical Guidelines and Patient Information Quality Instrument.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Article
- Analysis of the quality, accuracy, and readability of patient information on polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) on the internet available in English: a cross-sectional study.Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E · 2023Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAppendicitis is a common surgical problem among the young adult population, who are likely to use the internet to obtain medical information. This information may determine the health-seeking behavior of an individual and may delay medical attention. Little is known regarding the quality of patient information on appendicitis on the internet, as this has not been previously studied.
objectiveThe aim of our study was to identify the quality of information regarding appendicitis on websites intended for the public.
methodsWe conducted a systematic review of information on appendicitis available online using the following 4 search terms in google: "appendicitis," "appendix," "appendectomy," and "appendicectomy". The top 100 websites of each search term were assessed using the validated Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (EQIP) tool (score 0-36).
resultsA total of 119 websites met the eligibility criteria for evaluation. The overall median EQIP score for all websites was 20 (IQR 18-22). More than half the websites originated from the USA (65/119, 54.6%), and 45.4% (54/119) of all websites originated from hospitals, although 43% (23/54) of these did not mention qualitative risks from surgery. Incidence rates were only provided for complications and mortality in 12.6% (15/119) and 3.3% (4/119) of all websites, respectively.
conclusionsThe assessment of the quality and readability of websites concerning appendicitis by the EQIP tool indicates that most sites online were of poor credibility, with minimal information regarding complication rates and mortality. To improve education and awareness of appendicitis, there is an immediate need for more informative and patient-centered websites that are more compatible with international quality standards.
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Registered trials
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.