Googling endometriosis: a systematic review of information available on the Internet

What is it about?

Improving online information about endometriosis: tackling the epidemic of inaccurate health information online. Endometriosis is a medical condition that occurs when the lining of the womb grows in other places, such as the fallopian tubes or ovaries, and is characterised by pelvic pain and infertility. The internet is a commonly used source of health information for women with endometriosis: but is the information high quality? Researchers at the University of Oxford and Queen Mary, University of London, systematically evaluated webpages providing information about endometriosis to assess their quality. Their findings demonstrated that online information about endometriosis is consistently poor and written in language that women with endometriosis would find difficult to understand. The researchers recommend developing a robust strategy to improve the standard of online information for women with endometriosis. While it may seem unrealistic to regulate health information on the Internet, codes of conduct have been developed. The Information Standard provides accreditation to websites, which meet predefined standards related to readability, accessibility, and accuracy.

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Why is it important?

The internet is becoming the primary source of information gathering for women with endometriosis. It is challenging to differentiate between accurate and misleading information. This could lead to harm by increasing unnecessary anxiety and providing false reassurance. Regulating the internet is a difficult and daunting task but without this we risk an epidemic of inaccurate health information negatively influencing people with genuine concerns for their health.

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