The Sources and Popularity of Online Drug Information: An Analysis of Top Search Engine Results and Web Page Views

The internet has become a primary source of health information for patients, but there is limited information on what drug information is being searched and which websites are being used. This study analyzed search results for the most commonly dispensed drugs in the US on four popular search engines: Bing, Google (US and Canada), and Yahoo. The results showed that three quarters of the first result on Google USA for both brand and generic names linked to the National Library of Medicine. Wikipedia was the first result for approximately 80% of generic name searches on the other three sites, while over two thirds of brand name searches led to industry-sponsored sites.

The study also found that Wikipedia pages with the highest number of hits were mainly for opiates, benzodiazepines, antibiotics, and antidepressants. The researchers concluded that quality improvement efforts should focus on these drugs, as patients most often seek information on drugs with the potential for dependence, for stigmatized conditions, and for episodic treatments.

The study highlights the need for patients and healthcare professionals to be aware of the sources of online information and to evaluate the credibility of the information provided. The National Library of Medicine and Wikipedia were found to be important sources of information, while industry-sponsored sites were less reliable. The study's findings have implications for healthcare providers, policymakers, and patients who seek online information about prescription drugs.