Internet information availability about facial nerve paralysis

Abstract

Introduction : The Internet is widely used to find medical information. Facial nerve paralysis, with its numerous, varied diagnoses and broad field expertise in otorhinolaryngology and other departments, has triggered countless sites with widely varying quality and reliability. We clarified concerns on Internet-related information availability on facial nerve paralysis. Methods : We reviewed information using Japanese and English search terms for "facial nerve paralysis, facial palsy" on Google Japan (GJ), Yahoo Japan! (YJ), and Google USA (GU), clarifying the top 50 Web sites. Results : GJ and YJ search results showed few public institution Web sites, whereas those of commercial acupuncture and moxibustion practitioners accounted for about 40% of all the sites. GU sites generally described differential diagnoses well, with extensive, accurate information mainly developed by Western-medicine doctors rather than acupuncture and moxibustion practitioners. Conclusions : The quality of facial nerve paralysis information on the Internet varies widely, with Web sites containing reliable, extensive information, especially those developed by public institutions, greatly lacking as of this writing.