Bethesda, MD (Aug. 22, 2016) -- Patients depend on the internet for health information, but when it comes to colorectal cancer, currently available resources are not meeting their needs. A new study finds that there is a notable variation in accuracy, quality and readability of patient-oriented web information on colorectal cancer. Further, most websites lack important information regarding polyps and their importance for future follow-up surveillance colonoscopies. These findings were recently published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 1 , the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA).
Recognizing the lack of high-quality patient websites written at appropriate reading levels, AGA recently launched its new PatientINFO Center to provide credible, accessible information to patients on a vast array of GI conditions and procedures, including colorectal cancer.
Looking to the study's findings, here is how AGA's newly released resources differ from colorectal cancer information already on the web:
"High-quality and readable websites are essential to provide patients with reliable information to make informed decisions on colorectal screening and surveillance participation," said lead study author Eline Schreuders, MD, from Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands. "We appreciate that AGA kept these principles in mind when developing their new PatientINFO Center. We look forward to incorporating this resource into future studies."
In the U.S., colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed among men and women and the second leading cause of death from cancer. Colorectal cancer largely can be prevented through routine screening. For additional information on colorectal cancer, view AGA's new patient resources. Each of the below is publicly available by visiting http://www.gastro.org/patient-care/conditions-diseases/colorectal-cancer .
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For patient information on other conditions and procedures, visit http://www.gastro.org/patient-care . Currently, AGA has information available on 25 topic areas, with more to be added in the upcoming months.
1 Schreuders EH, Grobbee EJ, Kuipers EJ, Spaander MCW, Veldhuyzen van Zanten SJO, Variable Quality and Readability of Patient-oriented Websites on Colorectal Cancer Screening, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (2016), doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2016.06.029. http://www.cghjournal.org/article/S1542-3565(16)30376-7/abstract
About the AGA Institute
The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, the AGA has grown to include more than 16,000 members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research and educational programs of the organization. http://www.gastro.org .
About Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
The mission of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology is to provide readers with a broad spectrum of themes in clinical gastroenterology and hepatology. This monthly peer-reviewed journal includes original articles as well as scholarly reviews, with the goal that all articles published will be immediately relevant to the practice of gastroenterology and hepatology. For more information, visit http://www.cghjournal.org .
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