Publications
APS Bulletin • Volume 14, Number 5, 2004
Web Site Reviews
Michael E. Clark, PhD, Department Editor
The Center for Shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia
Reviewed by Stuart Derbyshire, PhD
http://www.massgeneral.org/neurology/shingles/
Site Audience
This site is directed toward patients seeking further information about shingles and/or postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Nevertheless, there is some useful information here for students and professionals unfamiliar with the disorders.
Content Appraisal
Visitors can use the site to calculate their risk of PHN, find out about current research into shingles and PHN, investigate treatment options, and schedule an appointment with a physician with PHN expertise within the Boston area. At the top of the home page are two sections, “If you have shingles now” and “If your shingles is gone but you still have problems”. The “now” link takes the visitor to a section on diagnosis of shingles and prevention of PHN that recommends the use of antivirals whether shingles is definitively diagnosed. It also recommends the use of antivirals in combination with a low-dose tricyclic antidepressant in older patients with shingles. This latter recommendation is direct from Dr. David Bowsher whose research has demonstrated early use of tricyclics to be far more effective in preventing and combating PHN pain than delayed use. Each heading in this section begins with a sound bite from one of many esteemed physicians. Clicking, “If your shingles is gone”, for example, provides a missive against the use of surgery from Dr. John Loeser, “For most patients, the pain of PHN cannot be helped by surgery.” The information within these sections generally is detailed and provides a considerable number of references for further research.
Beneath the “If” questions there are four more sections on “Research,” “Information,” “Schedule an Appointment” and “About the Center.” The research section lists several ongoing studies and advocates for more tissue donors for autopsy research. The “Information” section provides a description of shingles, answers several frequently asked questions, and provides links to other resources. The “Appointment” button leads to a list of about 12 physicians and provides a biographic sketch for each along with contact details. Not all of the appointment links were active. A mission statement is found in “About the Center,” which states the aim of providing up-to-date medical information and encourages patients to volunteer for clinical trials and research studies. There is also a warning that the Web site contains graphic images, which is probably unnecessary and certainly too late.
Navigation/Ease of Use
The site is not large and is fairly easy to navigate. The home page link remains at the bottom of any screen, so it becomes “lost” if the text goes beyond a single observable screen. The design is simple but tending toward uninteresting rather than engaging.
Recommendations
This site is a useful first stop for a patient concerned with shingles. With additional content and direction, it could be a better resource with a broader purpose.
Please direct your comments or suggestions for future Web Site Reviews to Michael E. Clark, PhD, Department Editor, at michaeleclark2@msn.com