Assessment of the Quality of Online Patient-Oriented Information on Robotic Colorectal Surgery

Abstract INTRODUCTION With advances in modern medicine, there is a constant need for accurate and up-to-date readily available information online to ensure patients are well-equipped for informed decision making. AIM This study sets out to analyze websites that provide patient-centered information on robotic colorectal surgery. METHOD Three search engines (Google, Yahoo and Firefox) were used with search terms ‘robotic colorectal surgery’ and the first twenty results on each platform assessed. After screening sites using predetermined criteria, further analysis was performed with the DISCERN questionnaire and Cohen Kappa analysis. RESULTS Out of the 60 websites identified from the initial search, only 14 websites contained patient information on robotic colorectal surgery. Of these, only three (21%) sites had been updated in the past year and one site was last updated ten years ago. Ten (71%) websites were affiliated with hospitals and the majority (12, 86%) were based in the United States of America (USA). Approximately half of the websites explored alternative surgical techniques, only three (21%) discussed the risks, a similar number had details on post-operative experience, and none mentioned cost implications, ongoing research or the waiting list involved. Overall, no website had a perfect score of 5 to be classified as good or excellent. There was at least a fair level of agreement (reliability score of >0.2) in twelve DISCERN criteria (80%), four of which were statistically significant. CONCLUSION Despite the huge volume of generic information on colorectal surgery, there is still a paucity of comprehensive patient-centered information on robotics as a modality of treatment. CORRESPONDENCE: Grace Oluchi Amaefule-Orie M.B.B.S., MPH. Email oluchyorie@yahoo.com