Lisibilité et qualité des sites Internet français sur l’épilepsie

Latent class analysis of eHealth behaviors among adults with epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine the proportions of uptake and factors associated with electronic health (eHealth) behaviors among adults with epilepsy.

METHODS

The 2013, 2015, and 2017 National Health Interview Surveys were analyzed. We assessed the proportions of use of five domains of eHealth in those with epilepsy: looked up health information on the internet, filled a prescription on the internet, scheduled a medical appointment on the internet, communicated with a health care provider via email, and used chat groups to learn about health topics. Multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to identify factors associated with any eHealth behaviors among those with active epilepsy. Latent class analysis was performed to identify underlying patterns of eHealth activity. Survey participants were classified into three discrete classes: (1) frequent, (2) infrequent, and (3) nonusers of eHealth. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with frequency of eHealth use.

RESULTS

There were 1770 adults with epilepsy, of whom 65.87% had at least one eHealth behavior in the prior year. By domain, 62.61% looked up health information on the internet, 15.81% filled a prescription on the internet, 14.95% scheduled a medical appointment on the internet, 17.20% communicated with a health care provider via email, and 8.27% used chat groups to learn about health topics. Among those with active epilepsy, female sex, more frequent computer usage, and internet usage were associated with any eHealth behavior. Female sex and frequent computer use were associated with frequent eHealth use as compared to nonusers.

SIGNIFICANCE

A majority of persons with epilepsy were found to use at least one form of eHealth. Various technological and demographic factors were associated with eHealth behaviors. Individuals with lower eHealth behaviors should be provided with targeted interventions that address barriers to the adoption of these technologies.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Patients With Breast Cancer: Exploratory Study of Social Network Forum Data

Background

Patients and health care professionals are becoming increasingly preoccupied in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that can also be called nonpharmacological interventions (NPIs). In just a few years, this supportive care has gone from solutions aimed at improving the quality of life to solutions intended to reduce symptoms, supplement oncological treatments, and prevent recurrences. Digital social networks are a major vector for disseminating these practices that are not always disclosed to doctors by patients. An exploration of the content of exchanges on social networks by patients suffering from breast cancer can help to better identify the extent and diversity of these practices.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the interest of patients with breast cancer in CAM from posts published in health forums and French-language social media groups.

Methods

The retrospective study was based on a French database of 2 forums and 4 Facebook groups between June 3, 2006, and November 17, 2015. The extracted, anonymized, and compiled data (264,249 posts) were analyzed according to the occurrences associated with the NPI categories and NPI subcategories, their synonyms, and their related terms.

Results

The results showed that patients with breast cancer use mainly physical (37.6%) and nutritional (31.3%) interventions. Herbal medicine is a subcategory that was cited frequently. However, the patients did not mention digital interventions.

Conclusions

This exploratory study of the main French forums and discussion groups indicates a significant interest in CAM during and after treatments for breast cancer, with primarily physical and nutritional interventions complementing approved treatments. This study highlights the importance of accurate information (vs fake medicine), prescription and monitoring of these interventions, and the mediating role that health professionals must play in this regard.

[Gluten: Is the information available on the Internet valid?]

BACKGROUND

Internet provides easy access to health information, but the quality and validity of this information vary.

OBJECTIVES

Evaluate the quality of website structures and the information provided on celiac disease (CD), gluten sensitivity (GS), and wheat allergy (WA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The websites addressing CD, GS, and WA appearing on the first two pages of Google, Yahoo, and Bing from seven selected queries were investigated. We initially assessed the website structures with one instrument (Netscoring) and the presence of certification (quality label Health On the Net (HON code)). Then we evaluated the content of each website concerning the information about CD, GS, and WA. Our repository was based on the most recent guidelines of the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) and the World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO) published in 2012. The websites were classified into eight categories.

RESULTS

One hundred and five websites were included. Twenty-one websites obtained a sufficient score with the Netscoring instrument (average 113.6/312). There was a significant correlation between the referenced websites analyzed and the grades obtained with the Netscoring instrument (Pearson=0.39, P=0.2×10^-5): websites of scientific societies (11.8/18), community websites (9.44/18), and website associations (9.4/18). There was a significant correlation between the results obtained for the websites on CD, GS, and WA and the results obtained for the websites with the Netscoring instruments (Pearson=0.41, P=2.6×10^-6). Only three websites were consistent with the guidelines on CD, GS, and WA.

CONCLUSION

The websites were partially in agreement with the guidelines. To date, the pediatrician remains the main actor in parental guidance concerning gluten information.