Google obstetrics: who is educating our patients?

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to investigate the sources of information retrieved by searching for obstetrically related terms on the Internet. STUDY DESIGN: The Google and Yahoo search engines were used to search for the terms cerebral palsy, birth trauma, shoulder dystocia, forceps delivery, epidural, and cesarean section. The first page of results retrieved for these search terms was examined. Information regarding the organization or individuals sponsoring the websites was collected. Differences in sponsorship were investigated by using a chi(2) test. RESULTS: Sponsorship was significantly different between topics ( P < .001). Lawyers were the most common sponsors of websites retrieved by the terms cerebral palsy (52%), birth trauma (48%), and shoulder dystocia (43%). Only 3.6% of websites on the first page of results were created or sponsored by obstetrician-gynecologists. CONCLUSION: As the Internet becomes a frequently used source of health information, obstetrician-gynecologists should consider how this forum can be more effectively used to disseminate educational information.