The ultimate impact factor: Updating the Wikipedia entry on Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis for quality, accuracy and completeness

Abstract

Aim: To update the Wikipedia entry on Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) in order to improve the quality, accuracy and completeness of published information for a broad consumer and healthcare professional audience. Wikipedia is widely used as a source of healthcare information, appears high on search engine results pages and is freely available across the globe. This makes Wikipedia an excellent portal to provide accurate information on paediatric rheumatic disease, which is poorly recognized and underdiagnosed. Methods: In October 2019, a group of 7 professionals working within Paediatric Rheumatology across Australia and New Zealand-4 Paediatric Rheumatologists, 2 physiotherapists and 1 specialist nurse-committed to updating the Wikipedia page on JIA. Contributions are made under the username AusNZrheumatology, which is registered as a contributor to both the WikiProject Medicine project, as well as the Dermatology Task Force (under which the JIA page falls). Results: At the time of project launch in November 2019, the JIA Wikipedia page received over 141,000 visits annually. Audit of webpage content revealed multiple inaccuracies, including major errors such as incorrect JIA subtype classification out of keeping with current the ILAR criteria; out-of-date prognostic information citing sources from 1999; and major errors of omission, including mention of only a single biologic agent for JIA treatment. The article was classed as 'C' on the Wikipedia quality scale, the 3rd lowest of 9 quality ratings. Topics were delegated, then revised based around the pre-existing article structure, with the addition of a new section on the paediatric rheumatology nurse. The revised content will be launched in March 2020, as an initiative to promote World Young Rheumatic Disease Day. Conclusion: Updating a Wikipedia page represents an accessible, lowcost, high-impact method for improving the quality of healthcare information around specific medical conditions, for both consumer and health professional audiences.L6331570212020-10-26 <br />