Assessment of Internet-Based Information Regarding Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Urinary Incontinence

Objective: This study aimed to establish descriptive data on the content, accuracy, and relevance of Internet-based information regarding pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence. Methods: Using the search terms, urinary incontinence, uterine prolapse, dropped uterus, cystocele, and dropped bladder, the first 20 Web sites that appeared in each of 3 highly used search engines were identified. Two experienced reviewers independently evaluated each site for specific content, relevance, and accuracy. Results: A total of 220 individual sites were identified: government-, university-, and/or society-sponsored sites represented 14.1% of the identified sites. Private parties, community groups, or unknown sponsors represented 73.2% of the sites. Industry represented 12.7% of the sites. The year the site was created was displayed in 45.9% of the sites, although 66.4% of the sites contained a year of update. Overall, 45% of the sites were rated as mostly/completely relevant to the search termand 44% of the sites were rated as mostly/completely accurate. Government-, university-, and/or society-sponsored sites were significantly more likely to be rated mostly/completely relevant and mostly/completely accurate compared with all other site sponsors with P = 0.05 and P = 0.0003, respectively. Conclusions: Government, university, and/or medical societies sponsor a minority of Web sites compared with other sponsors but provide more comprehensive content that is more relevant and accurate to the topics of pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence.