METHODS
A search was made for the presence of web sites for radiation oncology centers of 44 hospitals and for the accessibility of these sites through actively forwarding links using the “Google” search engine.
RESULTS
All centers had web sites. Twenty-nine centers had actively forwarding links. Web pages from 23 centers included information concerning available treatment options. Web pages from 26 centers included information concerning medical staff. Web pages from 26 centers included information concerning research conducted by the medical staff. Of all web pages, information concerning radiation oncology was available in seven. Using the “Google” search engine, actively forwarding links were found for 21 centers using “radiation oncology” keyword.
CONCLUSION
As Internet use expands, information requests by cancer patients gain in importance. The need for functional, comprehensive and easily accessible web sites is presently outweighed.
Keywords: Computer communication networks; Internet; radiation oncology; accessibility
