Information for Cancer Researchers: Evaluation of Content Values onCancer Web Sites

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to identify cancer institutes and associations’ web sites that provide free information useful in research and scientific endeavors. Thirty seven cancer web sites have been identified by using Google search engine for the study with the site domains .org, .edu, and .ac. This ensures the organization is not a commercial body. Availability of research & review articles, clinical trials, scientific reports, conferences proceedings, and other information of scientific importance in full text form are studied by visiting respective sites. The study reveals that though there are innumerable sites on cancer and information content for cancer patients as well as their relatives, the coverage of free full text scientific information for cancer scientific community is woefully inadequate. Even though the sites are developed and hosted by professional bodies, access to full text scientific literature / information for scientists and clinicians is restricted.