Resumen de Adequacy of the information on active pharmaceutical ingredients obtained in a google search

Javier Sanz Valero, Paula López Marcos, Enrique Perdiguero Gil

• Objective: To know the adequacy of the information on active pharmaceutical ingredients obtained in a Google search.

  Method: Cross-sectional study. The active pharmaceutical ingredients studied were obtained through Vademecum Medica Spain S.A. (http://vademecum.es).

  The sample was obtained by simple random sampling from the active pharmaceutical ingredients found in Vademecum. The population parameters were estimated (approximate expected value 0.5, accuracy of range 0.5, confidence level 0.95).

  The adequacy of the information was observed by accessing the results offered by the Google search engine. The references were considered suitable when the information was adequate in terms of use, dosage and secondary effects. Variables were described by frequency and percentage. The association between qualitative variables was analysed using the chi-square test (α= 0.05).

  Results: We studied 1,930 references resulting from the first five positions in the search of 386 active pharmaceutical ingredients. Direct access to the active pharmaceutical ingredients was obtained in 1,253 references (64.92%; 95% CI: 62.79 – 67.05)). Information was considered adequate in 463 references (23.99%; 95% CI: 22.08 – 25.89).

  Conclusions: The information on active ingredients obtained in a Google search is insuffcient because it does not give information on use, dosage and secondary effects correctly or all at the same time