Documentary quality versus veracity of information of the websites on syphilis and gonorrhea

María Sanz-Lorente (), Natalia Moles-Caballero (), Carmina Wanden-Berghe () and Javier Sanz-Valero ()
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María Sanz-Lorente: University Miguel Hernandez of Elche
Natalia Moles-Caballero: University Miguel Hernandez of Elche
Carmina Wanden-Berghe: University General Hospital of Alicante
Javier Sanz-Valero: University Miguel Hernandez of Elche

Scientometrics, 2021, vol. 126, issue 11, No 1, 8775-8788

Abstract: Abstract Objective: Analyze the possible relation between the documentary quality (DQ) versus the veracity of information (VI) on the syphilis and gonorrhea web pages. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study of websites containing information about syphilis and gonorrhea, by accessing this population through a Google. The quality was studied by using 8 variables belonging to DQ and 7 variables of the VI. Results: A total of 440 active websites mainly belonging to mass media and private entities was assessed. The fulfillment of DQ gave the following results: Mean 3.46 ± 0.07, median 4 and range from 0 to 7. The VI result was: median 4.07 ± 0.09, median 4 and range from 0 to 7. According to the search athwart syphilis or gonorrhea, the contrast of the median of the two indicators was: 3.55 vs 3.37 p = 0.181 and 4.14 vs 4.00 p = 0.442. No correlation was verified amid the data of DQ and VI (R = 0.04); p = 0.368. Similarly, no significance was observed when segregating data by disease, in the case of syphilis R = -0.03; p = 0.625 and on gonorrhea R = 0.12; p = 0.064. Conclusions: The DQ and VI bestowed low outcomes, which implies poor quality of syphilis and gonorrhea websites. According to infection (syphilis or gonorrhea), there were no meaningful differences amid the median values of the two indicators. Being acquainted with the authorship and affiliation of a website and the fact that it is tied to a prestigious web may be a factor to be deemed when predicting the VI of a website. The correlation amid the two indicators did not demonstrate an association, thus, knowing the DQ does not imply having the security of an adequate VI.

Keywords: Syphilis; Gonorrhea; Health communication; Computer communication networks; Quality control; Information dissemination (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1007/s11192-021-04123-6

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