Web-based resources for sun protection information – A French-language evaluation

BackgroundWith the dramatic increase in ultraviolet-induced skin damage, advocating the benefits of reasonable and moderate exposure to sunlight is a public health priority in most Western countries.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the nature and quality of the information posted on the Internet about the effects of the sun on health and about sun protection.MethodsWe used eight terms with eight search engines to identify relevant websites providing sun protection advice on the French-speaking web. This information was compared to the recommendations issued by nine official organisations. Influence of website quality and commercial links on the quality of the advice provided were evaluated. For the purposes of this comparison, we attributed marks to the following four criteria: 1: risks and benefits of sun exposure; 2: sun avoidance; 3: clothing recommendations; and 4: sunscreen use.ResultsThe search identified 1551 links. After exclusion of sites duplicated either within or between search engines, and of websites used as references, we found 129 web pages dedicated to sun protection advice. Data on the effects of the sun and sun protection were deficient in most websites in comparison to official organisation websites. The results were superior if the web pages or websites respected quality criteria. Commercial links tended to score poor marks for 1, 2 and 3 but better marks for 4 (sunscreen use).ConclusionWe showed the limits of web-based resources on the French-speaking web regarding sun protection advice. The poor quality of most of the websites and commercial conflict of interest with sunscreen manufacturers may explain these limits.