scholarly journals Improving the Quality of Consumer Health Information on Wikipedia: Case Series (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shira Schecter Weiner ◽  
Jill Horbacewicz ◽  
Lane Rasberry ◽  
Yocheved Bensinger-Brody
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Health Care Information ◽  
High Quality ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Wikipedia is one of the most consulted health resources in the world. Since the public is using health information from Wikipedia to make health care decisions, improving the quality of that health information is in the public interest. The open editable content design of Wikipedia and quality control processes in place provide an opportunity to add high-value, evidence-based information and take an active role in improving the health care information infrastructure. OBJECTIVE The aim of this project was to enhance Wikipedia health pages using high-quality, current research findings and track the persistence of those edits and number of page views after the changes to assess the reach of this initiative. METHODS We conducted Wikipedia Editathons with 3 different cohorts of Physical Therapy (PT) students to add high-quality health information to existing Wikipedia pages. Students synthesized best evidence information and updated and/or corrected existing Wikipedia entries on specific health pages. To evaluate the impact of these contributions, we examined two factors: (1) response to our contributions from the Wikipedia editing community, including number and type of subsequent edits as well as persistence of the student contributions and (2) number of page views by the public from the time of the page edits. RESULTS A total of 98 PT students in 3 different cohorts engaged in Editathons, editing 24 health pages. Of the 24 edits, 22 persisted at the end of the observation period (from time of entry to May 31, 2018) and received nearly 8 million page views. Each health page had an average of 354,724 page views. CONCLUSIONS The Wikipedia Editathon is an effective way to continuously enhance the quality of health information available on Wikipedia. It is also an excellent way of bridging health technology with best-evidence medical facts and disseminating accurate, useful information to the public.

scholarly journals Differences in Perceptions of Health Information Between the Public and Health Care Professionals: Nonprobability Sampling Questionnaire Survey (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anat Gesser-Edelsburg ◽  
Nour Abed Elhadi Shahbari ◽  
Ricky Cohen ◽  
Adva Mir Halavi ◽  
Rana Hijazi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
New Media ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
General Public ◽  
The Public ◽  
Search For Information

BACKGROUND In the new media age, the public searches for information both online and offline. Many studies have examined how the public reads and understands this information but very few investigate how people assess the quality of journalistic articles as opposed to information generated by health professionals. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine how public health care workers (HCWs) and the general public seek, read, and understand health information and to investigate the criteria by which they assess the quality of journalistic articles. METHODS A Web-based nonprobability sampling questionnaire survey was distributed to Israeli HCWs and members of the public via 3 social media outlets: Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. A total of 979 respondents participated in the online survey via the Qualtrics XM platform. RESULTS The findings indicate that HCWs find academic articles more reliable than do members of the general public (44.4% and 28.4%, respectively, P<.001). Within each group, we found disparities between the places where people search for information and the sources they consider reliable. HCWs consider academic articles to be the most reliable, yet these are not their main information sources. In addition, HCWs often use social networks to search for information (18.2%, P<.001), despite considering them very unreliable (only 2.2% found them reliable, P<.001). The same paradoxes were found among the general public, where 37.5% (P<.001) seek information via social networks yet only 8.4% (P<.001) find them reliable. Out of 6 quality criteria, 4 were important both to HCWs and to the general public. CONCLUSIONS In the new media age where information is accessible to all, the quality of articles about health is of critical importance. It is important that the criteria examined in this research become the norm in health writing for all stakeholders who write about health, whether they are professional journalists or citizen journalists writing in the new media.

scholarly journals Dietary and herbal supplements for weight loss: assessing the quality of patient information online

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Y. Ng ◽  
Saad Ahmed ◽  
Catherine Jiayi Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Consumer Health Information ◽  
Consumer Health ◽  
High Quality ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Given the high prevalence of dietary and herbal supplement (DHS) use in tandem with the growing ease of internet access, patients commonly search online for consumer health information about these products. One common reason for DHSs use includes weight loss. Healthcare providers need to be aware of the quality of online information about DHSs for weight loss so they can adequately counsel their patients and provide them with guidance surrounding the identification of high-quality information resources. This study aimed to assess the quality of online DHSs consumer health information for weight loss that a “typical” patient might access online. Methods Six search terms were used to generate the first 20 websites on the Google search engine in four countries: Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States (n = 480 websites). After applying exclusion criteria, eligible websites were quality assessed using the DISCERN instrument. This tool is comprised of 16 questions, each evaluated on a 5-point scale. The averages and standard deviations for each DISCERN instrument item, in addition to overall summed scores between 15 and 75 were calculated. Results Across 87 eligible websites, the mean summed score was 44.80 (SD = 11.53), while the mean overall DISCERN score of each website was 2.72 (SD = 0.99). In general, websites detailed and achieved their specified aims and described treatment benefits. However, most websites failed to describe the impact of treatment on overall quality of life and the impact of a no treatment option. The highest-scoring websites were largely government or health portal websites, while the lowest-scoring websites were largely commercial in nature. Conclusion High variability in DISCERN instrument scores was found across all websites assessed. Healthcare providers should be aware of the fact that their patients may be accessing misinformation online surrounding the use of DHSs for weight loss. Therefore, it is important for healthcare providers to ensure that they are providing their patients with guidance on how to identify high-quality resources online, in order that safe, effective, and evidence-based decisions are made surrounding the use of DHSs for weight loss.

Health Information Technology and Quality Management

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 56-72
Author(s):  
T. Ray Ruffin
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Information Technology ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Health Information Technology ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Services Research ◽  
The Public ◽  
Creative Thought ◽  
Management Quality

Even in healthcare and health information technology change will not vanish or disperse. Technology, civilization, and creative thought will drive this force increasingly forward. Health care managers will continue being judged on their ability to efficiently and effectively manage (Patton & James, 2000). The arena of Health Services Research (HSR) is trusted on by judgment deciders and the public is the principal basis of data on how thriving health systems are meeting this task (Steinwachs & Hughes, 2008). The goal of HSR is to deliver material that will ultimately lead to advances in the health of the community. HSR evaluation of quality of care has demonstrated it is an unspecified science and multifaceted, even though its description is comparatively simple (Steinwachs & Hughes, 2008). This article is to investigate the background, controversies, and problems surrounding Health Information Technology (HIT) Change and Quality Management including an overview of current changes and benefits of implementation. This will be coupled with solutions and recommendations, further research, and conclusion. This will enhance the field of research in leadership, change management, quality management, and health care.

Health Information Technology and Quality Management

2016 ◽  
pp. 354-371
Author(s):  
T. Ray Ruffin
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Information Technology ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Health Information Technology ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Services Research ◽  
The Public ◽  
Creative Thought ◽  
Management Quality

Even in healthcare and health information technology change will not vanish or disperse. Technology, civilization, and creative thought will drive this force increasingly forward. Health care managers will continue being judged on their ability to efficiently and effectively manage (Patton & James, 2000). The arena of Health Services Research (HSR) is trusted on by judgment deciders and the public is the principal basis of data on how thriving health systems are meeting this task (Steinwachs & Hughes, 2008). The goal of HSR is to deliver material that will ultimately lead to advances in the health of the community. HSR evaluation of quality of care has demonstrated it is an unspecified science and multifaceted, even though its description is comparatively simple (Steinwachs & Hughes, 2008). This article is to investigate the background, controversies, and problems surrounding Health Information Technology (HIT) Change and Quality Management including an overview of current changes and benefits of implementation. This will be coupled with solutions and recommendations, further research, and conclusion. This will enhance the field of research in leadership, change management, quality management, and health care.

The Impact of Health Information Technology on the Quality of Medical and Health Care: A Systematic Review

2009 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 26-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aziz Jamal ◽  
Kirsten McKenzie ◽  
Michele Clark
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Information Technology ◽  
Health Information Technology ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Specific Patient ◽  
Evidence Based Guidelines ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this study was to systematically review the published evidence of the impact of health information technology (HIT) or health information systems (HIS) on the quality of healthcare, focusing on clinicians' adherence to evidence-based guidelines and the corresponding impact this had on patient clinical outcomes. The review covered the use of health information technologies and systems in both medical care (i.e. clinical and surgical) and other areas such as allied health and preventive services. Studies were included in the review if they examined the impact of Electronic Health Record (EHR), Computerised Provider Order-Entry (CPOE), or Decision Support System (DS); and if the primary outcomes of the studies were focused on the level of compliance with evidence-based guidelines among clinicians. Measurements considered relevant to the review were either of changes in clinical processes resulting from a change of the providers' behaviour, or of specific patient outcomes that demonstrated the effectiveness of a particular treatment given by providers. Of 23 studies included in the current review, 17 assessed the impact of HIT/HIS on health care practitioners' performance. A positive improvement, in relation to their compliance with evidence-based guidelines, was seen in 14 studies. Studies that included an assessment of patient outcomes, however, showed insufficient evidence of either clinically or statistically important improvements. Although the number of studies reviewed was relatively small, the findings demonstrated consistency with similar previous reviews of this nature in that wide scale use of HIT has been shown to increase clinician's adherence to guidelines.

scholarly journals Impact of patient-perceived quality of primary health care on the patients' bypass behaviour in China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
WeiWei Zhang ◽  
Yuankai Huang ◽  
Gaojie Li ◽  
Hongjie Zhou ◽  
Xiaoyu Xi
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Care Assessment ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Bypass behaviour is a phenomenon that an individual visits an higher-level and farther health institution instead of one with an acceptable quality of care that is closer. Patient bypass often occurs under the loose rules of first diagnosis. Additionally, patients’ perceived quality of primary health care is one of the important factors affecting their bypass behaviours. Objective: to explore individuals’ bypass behaviour in China and the impact of patients’ perceived quality of primary health care on their bypass behaviour. Method: in 2019, a national wide sampling survey was conducted to collect data of Chinese residents’ bypass behaviours and its potential influencing factors. The questionnaire that was used assessed the following: the perceived quality of primary care using the Primary Care Assessment Tool; bypass experience; age; health insurance; and other factors. A logit regression model was used to analyse the impact of perceived quality of PHC on bypass behaviour. Results: the data of 2070 residents sampled in 706 secondary/tertiary hospitals in China were collected. The results show that perceived quality of PHC is significantly associated with bypass behaviour in China. Per increase of one the PCAT mean score had an odds ratio of 0.98 (p<0.05) for bypass behaviour. Gender, household registration and cold fee for PHC were negatively associated with bypass behaviour. Conclusion: patients' perceived quality of primary health care plays an active role in reducing their bypass behaviours, which may provide a new perspective for the design of primary health care policies.

scholarly journals Health information exchange in the wild: the association between organizational capability and perceived utility of clinical event notifications in ambulatory and community care

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua R Vest ◽  
Jessica S Ancker
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
Clinical Event ◽  
Organizational Capability ◽  
Event Notification ◽  
The Impact

Objective: Event notifications are real-time, electronic, automatic alerts to providers of their patients’ health care encounters at other facilities. Our objective was to examine the effects of organizational capability and related social/organizational issues upon users’ perceptions of the impact of event notifications on quality, efficiency, and satisfaction. Materials and methods: We surveyed representatives (n = 49) of 10 organizations subscribing to the Bronx Regional Health Information Organization’s event notification services about organizational capabilities, notification information quality, perceived usage, perceived impact, and organizational and respondent characteristics. The response rate was 89%. Average item scores were used to create an individual domain summary score. The association between the impact of event notifications and organizational characteristics was modeled using random-intercept logistic regression models. Results: Respondents estimated that organizations followed up on the majority (83%) of event notifications. Supportive organizational policies were associated with the perception that event notifications improved quality of care (odds ratio [OR] = 2.12; 95% CI, = 1.05, 4.45), efficiency (OR = 2.06; 95% CI = 1.00, 4.21), and patient satisfaction (OR = 2.56; 95% CI = 1.13, 5.81). Higher quality of event notification information was also associated with a perceived positive impact on quality of care (OR = 2.84; 95% CI = 1.31, 6.12), efficiency (OR = 3.04; 95% CI = 1.38, 6.69), and patient satisfaction (OR = 2.96; 95% CI = 1.25, 7.03). Conclusions: Health care organizations with appropriate processes, workflows, and staff may be better positioned to use event notifications. Additionally, information quality remains critical in users’ assessments and perceptions.

The Roots of Global Health Inequity

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joia S. Mukherjee
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
World War Ii ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
World War ◽  
The Public ◽  
The World Bank ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
The Cold War ◽  
The Impact

This chapter outlines the historical roots of health inequities. It focuses on the African continent, where life expectancy is the shortest and health systems are weakest. The chapter describes the impoverishment of countries by colonial powers, the development of the global human rights framework in the post-World War II era, the impact of the Cold War on African liberation struggles, and the challenges faced by newly liberated African governments to deliver health care through the public sector. The influence of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund’s neoliberal economic policies is also discussed. The chapter highlights the shift from the aspiration of “health for all” voiced at the Alma Ata Conference on Primary Health Care in 1978, to the more narrowly defined “selective primary health care.” Finally, the chapter explains the challenges inherent in financing health in impoverished countries and how user fees became standard practice.

scholarly journals How Different Fermentation Type Affects Volatile Composition of Plum Jerkums

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 4658
Author(s):  
Magdalena Januszek ◽  
Paweł Satora
Keyword(s):  
Volatile Compounds ◽  
Current Paper ◽  
Higher Alcohols ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Volatile Composition ◽  
Spontaneous Fermentation ◽  
Fermentation Efficiency ◽  
Yeast Strains ◽  
The Impact

Quality of plum jerkum is significantly associated to the profile of volatile compounds. Therefore, we decided to assess the impact of various fermentation types on selected properties of plum jerkums, especially compounds which contribute to the aroma of the finished product. We used the following yeast strains: S. cerevisiae S1, H. uvarum H2, and Ethanol RED (S. cerevisiae). Moreover, we considered spontaneous fermentation. S. cerevisiae and H. uvarum strains were isolated during the fermentation of Čačanska Lepotica or Węgierka Dąbrowicka (plum cultivars), respectively. As for fermentation type, spontaneous fermentation of H. uvarum H2 provided the best results. It could be associated to the fact that plum juices fermented with H. uvarum H2 presented the highest concentration of terpenoids, esters, or some higher alcohols. In the current paper, application of indigenous strains of yeasts resulted in the required oenological characteristics, e.g., highest fermentation efficiency and concentration of ethanol was determined in juices fermented with Ethanol RED (S. cerevisiae) and also with S. cerevisiae S1. Our results suggested that indigenous strains of yeasts present in plums demonstrate great potential for the production of plum jerkums of high quality.

scholarly journals Using the Google™ Search Engine for Health Information: Is There a Problem? Case Study: Supplements for Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah C Cai ◽  
Leanne E King ◽  
Johanna T Dwyer
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Search Engine ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
Nutrition Information ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Search Results ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Quality Rating

ABSTRACT We assessed the quality of online health and nutrition information using a Google™ search on “supplements for cancer”. Search results were scored using the Health Information Quality Index (HIQI), a quality-rating tool consisting of 12 objective criteria related to website domain, lack of commercial aspects, and authoritative nature of the health and nutrition information provided. Possible scores ranged from 0 (lowest) to 12 (“perfect” or highest quality). After eliminating irrelevant results, the remaining 160 search results had median and mean scores of 8. One-quarter of the results were of high quality (score of 10–12). There was no correlation between high-quality scores and early appearance in the sequence of search results, where results are presumably more visible. Also, 496 advertisements, over twice the number of search results, appeared. We conclude that the Google™ search engine may have shortcomings when used to obtain information on dietary supplements and cancer.

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