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The DARTS tool for assessing online medicines information

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Abstract

Objective The use of the Internet as a source of medicines information is increasing. However, the quality of online information is highly variable. Equipping Internet users to distinguish good quality information is the aim of a new five-item quality assessment tool (DARTS) that was developed by the Working Group on Information to Patients under the Pharmaceutical Forum established by the European Commission. The objective of this study was to investigate how people with depression assess the quality of online medicines information and to study their opinions about the DARTS tool in assisting in this process. Setting Focus group discussions with Internet users were conducted in metropolitan Helsinki, Finland. Method Six focus group discussions (67–109 min duration) were conducted with people with depression (n = 29). The DARTS tool was used as a stimulus after open discussion in relation to the evaluation of the quality of Internet-based medicines information. The focus groups were digitally audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were thematically content analysed by two researchers. Results Focus group participants were generally critical of the information they retrieved. However, few participants systematically applied quality assessment criteria when retrieving online information. No participants had knowledge or experience of any quality assessment tools. The DARTS tool was perceived as being concise and easy to use and understand. Many participants indicated it would allay some of their concerns related to information quality and act as a reminder. While several participants felt the tool should not be any more extensive, some of them believed it should include a more in-depth explanation to accompany each of the quality criteria. Conclusions The DARTS tool may act as a prompt for people with depression to assess the quality of online information they obtain. The five DARTS criteria may form the basis of a systematic approach to quality assessment and the tool may also act as a reminder of quality issues in general. Further studies are needed to assess the actual value of the DARTS tool as well as its value in relation to other quality assessment instruments.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Finnish Students Health Service, Mieli Maasta Ry Depression Alliance and Nyyti for their enthusiastic participation in this initiative. The authors are particularly grateful for the support and assistance provided by Dr Kari Pylkkänen and Ms Hilkka Kärkkäinen.

Funding

The study did not receive any external funding.

Conflicts of interests

During the study, UN and AK worked for the National Agency for Medicines, Finland. UN was a member of the European Commission Pharmaceutical Forum Working Group on Information to Patients. At the moment, she works for the European Commission.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. European Commission, Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry, Unit F/2, Avenue l’Auderghem 45, Brussels, Belgium

    Ulla Närhi

  2. Division of Social Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Marika Pohjanoksa-Mäntylä, Johanna K. Saari, Marja S. Airaksinen & Simon J. Bell

  3. National Agency for Medicines, Mannerheimintie 103b, 00301, Helsinki, Finland

    Anna Karjalainen & Hannes Wahlroos

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  1. Ulla Närhi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ulla Närhi.

Appendix 1. Focus group guide

Appendix 1. Focus group guide

  1. 1.

    Experiences in receiving information on antidepressants (in general)

  2. 2.

    Antidepressant-related information needs

  3. 3.

    Experiences in using different sources of medicines information

  4. 4.

    The internet as a source of medicines information

  5. 5.

    The methods and process of searching for Internet-based medicines information

  6. 6.

    The evaluation of the quality of Internet-based medicines information

  7. 7.

    Perceived impact of Internet-based medicines information

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Närhi, U., Pohjanoksa-Mäntylä, M., Karjalainen, A. et al. The DARTS tool for assessing online medicines information. Pharm World Sci 30, 898–906 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-008-9249-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-008-9249-9

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