Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8044

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Publication type: Journal Article

Abusief ME, Hornstein MD, Jain T; American Society for Reproductive Medicine; Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology.
Assessment of United States fertility clinic websites according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)/Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) guidelines.
Fertil Steril 2007 Jan; 87:(1):88-92
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0015-0282(06)03167-0

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate SART-member fertility clinic websites for their compliance with the 2004 ASRM/SART guidelines for advertising (which is deemed mandatory for clinic membership), to survey the general characteristics of the websites, and to assess differences between academic and private clinic websites.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional evaluation.

SETTING: The Internet.

PATIENTS: None.

INTERVENTIONS: None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Eleven objective criteria based on 2004 ASRM/SART guidelines for advertising and eight objective criteria for general characteristics of fertility clinic websites.

RESULTS: All 384 SART-registered clinics were evaluated; 289 (75.3%) had functional websites (211 private, 78 academic). Success rates were published on 51% of websites (117 private, 31 academic), the majority of which were private clinics (p=.025). The percentage of fertility clinic websites adhering to ASRM/SART guidelines was low in all categories (ranging from 2.8%-54.5% in private centers and 1.3%-37.2% in academic centers). No statistically significant difference was found in the services offered at private versus academic clinics.

CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of SART-member fertility clinics, both private and academic, that have websites are not following the ASRM/SART guidelines for advertising. Increased dissemination and awareness of the guidelines is warranted.

Keywords:
MeSH Terms: Academic Medical Centers Advertising/standards* Internet/standards* Internet/statistics & numerical data Marketing of Health Services/standards* Marketing of Health Services/statistics & numerical data Practice Guidelines* Quality Assurance, Health Care/standards Reproductive Medicine/standards* Reproductive Medicine/statistics & numerical data Reproductive Techniques, Assisted/standards* Reproductive Techniques, Assisted/statistics & numerical data United States