Online advertising and marketing claims by providers of proton beam therapy: are they guideline-based?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cancer patients frequently search the Internet for treatment options, and hospital websites are seen as reliable sources of knowledge. Guidelines support the use of proton radiotherapy in specific disease sites or on clinical trials. This study aims to evaluate direct-to-consumer advertising content and claims made by proton therapy centre (PTC) websites worldwide.

Methods

Operational PTC websites in English were identified through the Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group website. Data abstraction of website content was performed independently by two investigators. Eight international guidelines were consulted to determine guideline-based indications for proton radiotherapy. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the character

SUBMITTER: Corkum MT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5856220 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature