Is the Internet a reliable source for dietary recommendations for stone formers?
PURPOSE: Kidney stone formation is influenced by environmental factors, especially diet. Certain dietary modifications, including increased fluid intake, reduced animal protein and sodium consumption, and normal calcium intake, reduce the risk of stone activity. Patients frequently use the Internet for information regarding disease processes. We undertook this study to determine the quality of dietary stone information available in this communication domain. METHODS: The Google search engine was used to survey 458 consecutive sites related to kidney stones and dietary information. The presence or absence of the four aforementioned dietary recommendations was recorded. The sites were analyzed for correctness, information on all four domains present and correct; inaccuracy, something mentioned about all four areas but > or =1 recommendation error(s); deficiency, information on < or =3 or domains and no recommendation errors; deficiency and inaccuracy, information on < or =3 areas and > o
