Authors Cambrey Nguyen University of Kansas School of Pharmacy
Source
Journal of the Medical Library Association
Vol 109, No 4 (2021)
DOI: 10.5195/jmla.2021.1229
Abstract
Introduction: Consumers commonly use the Internet for immediate drug information. In 2014, Google introduced the snippet block to programmatically search available websites to answer a question entered into the search engine without the need for the user to enter any websites. This study compared the accuracy and completeness of drug information found in Google snippet blocks to US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) medication guides.
Methods: Ten outpatient drugs were selected from the 2018 Clinical Drugstats Database Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Six questions in the medication guide for each drug were entered into the Google search engine to find the snippet block. The accuracy and completeness of drug information in the Google snippet block were quantified by two different pharmacists using a scoring system of 1 (less than 25% accurate/complete information) to 5 (100% accurate/complete information). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the scores.
Source: 10.5195/jmla.2021.1229
Results: For five out of the six questions, the information in the Google snippets had less than 50% accuracy and completeness compared to the medication guides. The average accuracy and completeness scores of the Google snippets were highest for “What are the ingredients of [the drug]?” with scores of 3.38 (51–75%) and 3.00 (51–75%), respectively. The question on “How to take [drug]?” had the lowest score with averages of 1.00 (<25%) for both accuracy and completeness.
Conclusion: Google snippets provide inaccurate and incomplete drug information when compared to FDA-approved drug medication guides. This aspect may cause patient harm; therefore, it is imperative for health care and health information professionals to provide reliable drug resources to patients and consumers if written information may be needed.
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area.
He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit.
Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com. Gary is also the co-founder of infoDJ an innovation research consultancy supporting corporate product and business model teams with just-in-time fact and insight finding.
From a Bleeping Computer Report: Over 5.4 million Twitter user records containing non-public information stolen using an API vulnerability fixed in January have been shared for free on a hacker ...
From the CBC: A new project from the University of Calgary is creating 3D digital records of some Alberta residential schools. The Taylor Family Digital Library, in consultation with Indigenous ...
From My Modern Met: Situated near Nieuwmarkt station in Amsterdam is a hidden gem for comic fans. Founded in 1968, Lambiek is the oldest comic shop in the world. And while ...
From the CBC: The Iqaluit public library has been closed for more than five weeks and according to the Government of Nunavut, which operates the facility, it will be closed ...
From a Newsday Report: Districts from both Nassau and Suffolk — including those in Amityville, Bethpage, Baldwin, Herricks, South Huntington and Valley Stream 13, have upgraded their libraries in recent ...
From the New York Public Library Focusing on the central idea that everything at the Library is always a deal (i.e. free!), this year’s campaign will appeal to anyone who’s laughed at ...
From LAC: Library and Archives Canada (LAC) celebrated today the opening of its new state-of-the-art Preservation Storage Facility in Gatineau, Quebec. A plaque was unveiled and guests toured the site ...
The article linked below was recently published by Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Title Why Don’t We Share Data and Code? Perceived Barriers and Benefits to Public Archiving Practices ...
From Johns Hopkins University: A new map of the universe displays for the first time the span of the entire known cosmos with pinpoint accuracy and sweeping beauty. Created by ...
Archives NZ Reinstates Online Search Tool After Data Mishap (via RNZ) One Third of Iceland’s Population Reads a Book Every Day (via Iceland Monitor) International Federation of Library Associations and ...
From a NARA Announcement: A new, modernized National Archives Catalog launched online today (11/22). The new Catalog’s focus on scalability will allow the agency to reach its goal to get 500 ...
