Evaluating Internet Drug Information

Abstract

For many consumers, the Internet has become a primary resource for health-related information. A study was conducted to evaluate the reliability and validity of consumer drug-information sites on the Internet. To assess reliability, the researchers identified sites with an “ask the pharmacist” option. Questions about the education and experience of the drug-information personnel, volume of inquiries received, reference utilization, and characteristics of inquirers were submitted to each of the sites. To assess validity, a drug information question was submitted to each of the sites. The responses received were evaluated by comparing them with responses from trained drug-information specialists working in established institutional services. Fewer than 70% of the sites answered the drug information question correctly. The conclusion: Drug information communicated via “ask the pharmacist” Internet sites may be unreliable.