TY - JOUR
T1 - Informing Translation
T2 - The Accuracy of Information on Websites for Lifestyle Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
AU - Htet, Thaw
AU - Cassar, S.
AU - Boyle, Jacqueline A.
AU - Kuczynska-Burggraf, Millicent
AU - Gibson-Helm, Melanie
AU - Chiu, Wei Ling
AU - Stepto, N. K.
AU - Moran, Lisa J.
PY - 2018/1
Y1 - 2018/1
N2 - Lifestyle (diet, physical activity [PA], and/or behavioral) interventions are recommended for all women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in international guidelines. The internet is a widely used health information resource. However, the accuracy of lifestyle information on PCOS websites is unknown and is reviewed here to inform translation of the international guideline on PCOS. An internet search was conducted with three search engines across different web browsers and countries. Accuracy was assessed through a checklist of 29 questions based on international guidelines for diet, PA, or weight management for the general population and for PCOS with higher scores indicating greater accuracy. Fifteen websites were eligible out of 72 (20%). The total accuracy score was 56 ± 13 (mean ± standard deviation; potential range: -29 to 87) comprising 23 ± 6 for diet (-11 to 33), 15 ± 5 for PA (-9 to 27), and 14 ± 3 for weight management (-8 to 24). A moderate proportion of websites provided general information on appropriate diet (40-80%) or weight management strategies (47-60%), but only 10 to 40% of websites provided information on core foods, discretionary foods, exercise quantity/intensity, energy deficits, or behavioral strategies. Limited websites on PCOS contain information on lifestyle management. The majority provided information on general diet, PA, and weight recommendations but less information on practical implementation of lifestyle change as an identified translation gap for the international guideline on PCOS.
AB - Lifestyle (diet, physical activity [PA], and/or behavioral) interventions are recommended for all women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in international guidelines. The internet is a widely used health information resource. However, the accuracy of lifestyle information on PCOS websites is unknown and is reviewed here to inform translation of the international guideline on PCOS. An internet search was conducted with three search engines across different web browsers and countries. Accuracy was assessed through a checklist of 29 questions based on international guidelines for diet, PA, or weight management for the general population and for PCOS with higher scores indicating greater accuracy. Fifteen websites were eligible out of 72 (20%). The total accuracy score was 56 ± 13 (mean ± standard deviation; potential range: -29 to 87) comprising 23 ± 6 for diet (-11 to 33), 15 ± 5 for PA (-9 to 27), and 14 ± 3 for weight management (-8 to 24). A moderate proportion of websites provided general information on appropriate diet (40-80%) or weight management strategies (47-60%), but only 10 to 40% of websites provided information on core foods, discretionary foods, exercise quantity/intensity, energy deficits, or behavioral strategies. Limited websites on PCOS contain information on lifestyle management. The majority provided information on general diet, PA, and weight recommendations but less information on practical implementation of lifestyle change as an identified translation gap for the international guideline on PCOS.
KW - diet
KW - physical activity
KW - polycystic ovary syndrome
KW - website
KW - weight management
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85053232360&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1055/s-0038-1667309
DO - 10.1055/s-0038-1667309
M3 - Review Article
C2 - 30189455
AN - SCOPUS:85053232360
SN - 1526-8004
VL - 36
SP - 80
EP - 85
JO - Seminars in Reproductive Medicine
JF - Seminars in Reproductive Medicine
IS - 1
ER -