An analysis of online messages about probiotics

Margaret A. Brinich; Mary Beth Mercer; Richard R. Sharp

doi:10.1186/1471-230X-13-5

An analysis of online messages about probiotics

Margaret A. Brinich, Mary Beth Mercer, Richard R. Sharp

Quantitative Health Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Internet websites are a resource for patients seeking information about probiotics. We examined a sample of 71 websites presenting probiotic information. We found that descriptions of benefits far outnumbered descriptions of risks and commercial websites presented significantly fewer risks than noncommercial websites. The bias towards the presentation of therapeutic benefits in online content suggests that patients are likely interested in using probiotics and may have unrealistic expectations for therapeutic benefit. Gastroenterologists may find it useful to initiate conversations about probiotics within the context of a comprehensive health management plan and should seek to establish realistic therapeutic expectations with their patients.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	5
Journal	BMC Gastroenterology
Volume	13
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-230X-13-5
State	Published - Jan 11 2013

Keywords

Complementary and alternative medicine
Doctor-patient communication
Ethics
Probiotics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Gastroenterology

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10.1186/1471-230X-13-5

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title = "An analysis of online messages about probiotics",

abstract = "Internet websites are a resource for patients seeking information about probiotics. We examined a sample of 71 websites presenting probiotic information. We found that descriptions of benefits far outnumbered descriptions of risks and commercial websites presented significantly fewer risks than noncommercial websites. The bias towards the presentation of therapeutic benefits in online content suggests that patients are likely interested in using probiotics and may have unrealistic expectations for therapeutic benefit. Gastroenterologists may find it useful to initiate conversations about probiotics within the context of a comprehensive health management plan and should seek to establish realistic therapeutic expectations with their patients.",

keywords = "Complementary and alternative medicine, Doctor-patient communication, Ethics, Probiotics",

author = "Brinich, {Margaret A.} and Mercer, {Mary Beth} and Sharp, {Richard R.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was funded by grant number R01HG004877 from the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health. We thank Sabahat Hizlan for her contributions to data analysis.",

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AU - Brinich, Margaret A.

AU - Mercer, Mary Beth

AU - Sharp, Richard R.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was funded by grant number R01HG004877 from the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health. We thank Sabahat Hizlan for her contributions to data analysis.

PY - 2013/1/11

Y1 - 2013/1/11

N2 - Internet websites are a resource for patients seeking information about probiotics. We examined a sample of 71 websites presenting probiotic information. We found that descriptions of benefits far outnumbered descriptions of risks and commercial websites presented significantly fewer risks than noncommercial websites. The bias towards the presentation of therapeutic benefits in online content suggests that patients are likely interested in using probiotics and may have unrealistic expectations for therapeutic benefit. Gastroenterologists may find it useful to initiate conversations about probiotics within the context of a comprehensive health management plan and should seek to establish realistic therapeutic expectations with their patients.

AB - Internet websites are a resource for patients seeking information about probiotics. We examined a sample of 71 websites presenting probiotic information. We found that descriptions of benefits far outnumbered descriptions of risks and commercial websites presented significantly fewer risks than noncommercial websites. The bias towards the presentation of therapeutic benefits in online content suggests that patients are likely interested in using probiotics and may have unrealistic expectations for therapeutic benefit. Gastroenterologists may find it useful to initiate conversations about probiotics within the context of a comprehensive health management plan and should seek to establish realistic therapeutic expectations with their patients.

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KW - Doctor-patient communication

KW - Ethics

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An analysis of online messages about probiotics

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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