BMJ  2006;332:939-942 (22 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.38753.524201.7C (published 2 March 2006)

Research

Accuracy and self correction of information received from an internet breast cancer list: content analysis

¹ School of Health Information Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 7000 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA, ² Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Abstract

Objectives To determine the prevalence of false or misleading statements in messages posted by internet cancer support groups and whether these statements were identified as false or misleading and corrected by other participants in subsequent postings.

Design Analysis of content of postings.

Setting Internet cancer support group Breast Cancer Mailing List.

Main outcome measures Number of false or misleading statements posted from 1 January to 23 April 2005 and whether these were identified and corrected by participants in subsequent postings.

Results 10 of 4600 postings (0.22%) were found to be false or misleading. Of these, seven were identified as false or misleading by other participants and corrected within an average of four hours and 33 minutes (maximum, nine hours and nine minutes).

Conclusions Most posted information on breast cancer was accurate. Most false or misleading statements were rapidly corrected by participants in subsequent postings.

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