The quality of Internet information relating to 2019-nCov transmission control in dental practice

BACKGROUND: To date, the quality of the Internet information regarding the control and management of 2019-nCov virus transmission in dental clinics has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of Internet information about the control of 2019-nCov transmission in dental practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Internet websites were identified daily using two search engines: Google and Yahoo! during the week from 20-06-2020 to 26-06-2020, applying the search term “2019-nCov transmission control in dental practice.” The first 100 consecutive sites identified in each search were visited and classified. The quality of information contained in each website was analyzed using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmarks, whether the website had been granted the Health on the Net Foundation Code of Conduct (HONcode), and a new tool for evaluating the quality of Internet websites providing information relating to 2019-nCov transmission control in dental practice, which awards a score of 0-40 points (8-13: poor; 14-26: medium; and 27-40 high). RESULTS: After the exclusion of duplicates, non-functioning websites, books/journals, irrelevant websites, or websites not in English, a total of 30 websites were evaluated. Only 6.66% fulfilled all four JAMA benchmarks, none had been granted the HONcode, and only 10% presented high quality information. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of Internet information about 2019-nCov transmission control in dental practice is poor. This study points to the need to improve the quality of information available on the Internet relating to 2019-nCov transmission control in dental practice. Key words:2019-nCov, COVID-19, transmission control in dental practice, Internet, quality of information.