Quality of information on emergency contraception on the Internet.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of patient information about emergency contraception on the Internet.

DESIGN: We performed an on-line search of the Internet and found relevant World Wide Web sites by combining the key phrases 'emergency contraception' and 'patient information' in two Web subject guides and two search engines. We defined quality as the extent to which the characteristics of a Web site satisfied its stated and implied objectives. Our assessment focused on credibility and content of each Web site. Credibility was assessed by source, currency and editorial review process and content of Web site was assessed by hierarchy and accuracy of evidence.

RESULTS: Our search revealed 32 relevant Web sites, none of which complied with all of the criteria for quality of credibility and content. Twenty-eight Web sites displayed the source clearly, 17 Web sites showed currency, and none of the Web sites had an editorial review process. Only six of the 32 sites mentioned hierarchy of evidence. None of the Web sites depicted all the criteria for accuracy of contents.

CONCLUSION: None of the Web sites provided complete information to patients about emergency contraception according to the quality criteria used in this study. As previous studies have shown, people need to be wary about the quality of information on the Internet.