Health outcomes of online consumer health information: A systematic mixed studies review with framework synthesis

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Greater Midwest Region (NNLM GMR) received funding to support the evaluation and development of an asynchronous consumer health information course. Requirements of this project included: incorporating recommendations from NNLM instructors, National Library of Medicine staff and public library staff; piloting the revised course with a nationwide cohort; incorporating feedback from the pilot; and delivering a second instance of the revised course. The revised course meets existing requirements for public library certification and for Level 1 certification of the Medical Library Association’s Consumer Health Information Specialization.

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Development of a Translation Standard to support the improvement of health literacy and provide consistent high-quality information

Australian Health Review ◽

10.1071/ah13082 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 37 (4) ◽

pp. 547 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jaklina Michael ◽

Tracy Aylen ◽

Rajna Ogrin

Keyword(s):

Health Literacy ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Health Information ◽

Culturally Relevant ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Relevant Information ◽

Consumer Health Information ◽

Target Audience ◽

Consumer Health ◽

High Quality

Australia has a high number of people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds whose primary language is not English. CALD population groups have comparatively lower levels of education and health literacy, and poorer health outcomes compared with the Australian-born population. The delivery of consumer health information to people from CALD backgrounds usually includes the use of translated resources. Unfortunately, the quality of translated resources available on health issues is highly variable and may impact efforts to address the disparities in health outcomes. Currently applied guides to translation focus on accuracy and literalness of the translation; however, for health translations, conveying meaning and incorporating culturally relevant information is essential. Minimum standards for developing translated resources are needed to provide an indication of quality for end users, including healthcare providers, the client and carer. This paper describes the development of a Translation Standard, led by a community nursing organisation in collaboration and consultation with CALD community members and peak community organisations in Melbourne, Australia. The Translation Standard includes 10 components that have been identified as necessary to ensure a minimum standard of translation that is of high quality and caters to the health literacy levels of the target audience. What is known about the topic? There are many people from CALD backgrounds who have worse health outcomes than people who are Australian born. There is a gap in guidance to health professionals on how to develop high-quality translations of consumer health information that consider culture and health literacy. Higher-quality translations are needed to better inform CALD groups about their health. What does this paper add? The description of a new Translation Standard to guide the development of culturally relevant consumer health translations, considering the cultural needs and health literacy level of the target audience. What are the implications for practitioners? The Translation Standard provides assurance to practitioners that any translation that has followed this Standard is of high quality and increases the likelihood that the target audience will find the information relevant and understandable. The Translation Standard can assist consumers to make more informed choices and decisions about their health. Future translations would benefit by using such a guide.

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Steps Toward Reliable Online Consumer Health Information

Consumer Informatics - Health Informatics ◽

10.1007/978-1-4757-3920-6_7 ◽

2004 ◽

pp. 80-89 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ron D. Appel ◽

Celia Boyer

Keyword(s):

Health Information ◽

Consumer Health Information ◽

Consumer Health ◽

Online Consumer

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Reducing Negative Outcomes of Online Consumer Health Information: Qualitative Interpretive Study with Clinicians, Librarians, and Consumers

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/jmir.9326 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (5) ◽

pp. e169 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Reem El Sherif ◽

Pierre Pluye ◽

Christine Thoër ◽

Charo Rodriguez

Keyword(s):

Health Information ◽

Consumer Health Information ◽

Consumer Health ◽

Negative Outcomes ◽

Interpretive Study ◽

Online Consumer

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Reducing Negative Outcomes of Online Consumer Health Information: Qualitative Interpretive Study with Clinicians, Librarians, and Consumers (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.9326 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Reem El Sherif ◽

Pierre Pluye ◽

Christine Thoër ◽

Charo Rodriguez

Keyword(s):

Health Information ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Family Physicians ◽

Consumer Health Information ◽

Three Dimensions ◽

Consumer Health ◽

Negative Outcomes ◽

Health Practitioners ◽

Online Consumer ◽

Inductive Thematic Analysis

BACKGROUND There has been an exponential increase in the general population’s usage of the internet and of information accessibility; the current demand for online consumer health information (OCHI) is unprecedented. There are multiple studies on internet access and usage, quality of information, and information needs. However, few studies explored negative outcomes of OCHI in detail or from different perspectives, and none examined how these negative outcomes could be reduced. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to describe negative outcomes associated with OCHI use in primary care and identify potential preventive strategies from consumers’, health practitioners’, and health librarians’ perspectives. METHODS This included a two-stage interpretive qualitative study. In the first stage, we recruited through a social media survey, a purposeful sample of 19 OCHI users who had experienced negative outcomes associated with OCHI. We conducted semistructured interviews and performed a deductive-inductive thematic analysis. The results also informed the creation of vignettes that were used in the next stage. In the second stage, we interviewed a convenient sample of 10 key informants: 7 health practitioners (3 family physicians, 2 nurses, and 2 pharmacists) and 3 health librarians. With the support of the vignettes, we asked participants to elaborate on (1) their experience with patients who have used OCHI and experienced negative outcomes and (2) what strategies they suggest to reduce these outcomes. We performed a deductive-inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS We found that negative outcomes of OCHI may occur at three levels: internal (such as increased worrying), interpersonal (such as a tension in the patient-clinician relationship), and service-related (such as postponing a clinical encounter). Participants also proposed three types of strategies to reduce the occurrence of these negative outcomes, namely, providing consumers with reliable OCHI, educating consumers on how to assess OCHI websites, and helping consumers present and discuss the OCHI they find with a health professional in their social network or a librarian for instance. CONCLUSIONS We examined negative outcomes associated with using OCHI from five complementary perspectives (consumers, family physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and health librarians). We identified a construct of OCHI use–related tension that included and framed all negative outcomes. This construct has three dimensions (three interdependent levels): internal, interpersonal, and service-related tensions. Future research can focus on the implementation and effectiveness of the proposed strategies, which might contribute to reducing these tensions.

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