Quality of Health Information on the Internet

2009 ◽  
pp. 443-455
Author(s):  
Kleopatra Alamantariotou
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
The Internet ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Effective Use

Recent statistics show that the World Wide Web has now grown to over 100 million sites: a phenomenal expansion in only 15 years (Mulligan 2007). It has been estimated that there are 100,000 sites offering health related information (Wilson 2002). As the amount of health information increases, the public find it increasingly difficult to decide what to accept and what to reject (Burgess 2007). Searching for information on the internet is both deceptively easy and the same time frustratingly difficult (Kiley 2002). The challenge for consumers is to find high quality, relevant information as quickly as possible. There has been ongoing debate about the quality of information aimed at patients and the general public and opinions differ on how it can be improved (Stepperd 1999). The purpose of this chapter is to provide a brief overview of the different perspectives on information quality and to review the main criteria for assessing the quality of health information on the internet. Pointers are provided to enable both clinicians and patients find high quality information sources. An understanding of these issues should help health professionals and patients to make effective use of the internet.

Quality of Health Information on the Internet

2011 ◽  
pp. 204-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kleopatra Alamantariotou
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
The Internet ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Effective Use

Recent statistics show that the World Wide Web has now grown to over 100 million sites: a phenomenal expansion in only 15 years (Mulligan 2007). It has been estimated that there are 100,000 sites offering health related information (Wilson 2002). As the amount of health information increases, the public find it increasingly difficult to decide what to accept and what to reject (Burgess 2007). Searching for information on the internet is both deceptively easy and the same time frustratingly difficult (Kiley 2002). The challenge for consumers is to find high quality, relevant information as quickly as possible. There has been ongoing debate about the quality of information aimed at patients and the general public and opinions differ on how it can be improved (Stepperd 1999). The purpose of this chapter is to provide a brief overview of the different perspectives on information quality and to review the main criteria for assessing the quality of health information on the internet. Pointers are provided to enable both clinicians and patients find high quality information sources. An understanding of these issues should help health professionals and patients to make effective use of the internet.

The use of online health related information by medical students and their trust in the retrieved information

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Khajouei ◽  
Zahra Karbasi ◽  
Moghaddameh Mirzaee ◽  
Arefeh Ameri ◽  
Leila Ahmadian
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Health Information ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Use Of The Internet

Abstract Background The Internet plays an important role in attaining health related information and its importance is growing worldwide. The majority of Internet users are university students. However, their use of the Internet for health information has not been well studied. The objective of this study was to examine the use of the Internet by medical students to search for health information. Methods This cross-sectional survey was performed on a sample of 400 Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacology students selected from three faculties. The data were collected using a valid and reliable questionnaire designed based on the review of the published literature and advice of a panel of experts. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20 using Chi-square and Logistic regression.Results In this study 261 (65.2%) students used the Internet to search for health information. Most of them (n=175, 67%) somewhat trusted the reliability of information on the Internet. Women used the Internet to search for health information 1.74 times than men (p=0.016) and Medicine students 1.7 times than Pharmacology students (p=0.04). The majority of 20-30 years old students believed that using Internet had no effect on their visits to physicians(p=<0.0001). It reduced the number of visits in all students older than 30. Conclusions The content of online resources needs to be monitored in terms of its credibility for using by students especially those involved in health care domain. Based on our findings most students somewhat trusted the online health information. This is promising for the universities to plan for investment on online education and materials.

Quality of online otolaryngology health information

2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (06) ◽  
pp. 560-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
T C Biggs ◽  
N Jayakody ◽  
K Best ◽  
E V King
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Adequate Information ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractObjectiveUp to 70 per cent of the population search online for medical or health-related information. This study aimed to assess the quality of online health resources available to educate patients on a variety of otolaryngological conditions.MethodsTwo clinicians independently analysed the quality and content of educational websites (patient.co.uk and wikipedia.org) for common and uncommon diagnoses, with cancerresearchuk.org also used to assess two head and neck cancers.ResultsCancerresearchuk.org, followed by patient.co.uk, scored most highly in their ability to inform readers on a selection of otolaryngological conditions. Although wikipedia.org was less likely to include all relevant information and was more difficult to read, it still provided mostly accurate information.ConclusionWhere possible, patients should be advised to access professionally maintained health information websites (patient.co.uk and cancerresearchuk.org). However, wikipedia.org can provide adequate information, although it lacks depth and can be difficult to understand.

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.

scholarly journals The Quality of Online Health-Related Information – an Emergent Consumer Health Issue

2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 408-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin Nădăşan
Keyword(s):  
Evaluation Criteria ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Consumer Health ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
Treatment Procedures ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThe Internet has become one of the main means of communication used by people who search for health-related information. The quality of online health-related information affects the users’ knowledge, their attitude, and their risk or health behaviour in complex ways and influences a substantial number of users in their decisions regarding diagnostic and treatment procedures.The aim of this review is to explore the benefits and risks associated with using the Internet as a source of health-related information; the relationship between the quality of the health-related information available on the Internet and the potential risks; the multiple conceptual components of the quality of health-related information; the evaluation criteria for quality health-related information; and the main approaches and initiatives that have been implemented worldwide to help improve users’ access to high-quality health-related information.

scholarly journals Moving Beyond the Gym: A Content Analysis of YouTube as an Information Resource for Physical Literacy

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (18) ◽  
pp. 3335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trevor Bopp ◽  
Joshua D. Vadeboncoeur ◽  
Michael Stellefson ◽  
Melissa Weinsz
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
Code Of Conduct ◽  
Content Delivery ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Physical Literacy ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Media Source ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Accumulation And Enrichment

The Internet, and particularly YouTube, has been found to be and continues to develop as a resourceful educational space for health-related information. Understanding physical literacy as a lifelong health-related outcome and facilitator of an active lifestyle, we sought to assess the content, exposure, engagement, and information quality of uploaded physical literacy videos on YouTube. Two researchers collected 300 YouTube videos on physical literacy and independently coded each video’s: title, media source of upload, content topics related to physical literacy, content delivery style, and adherence to adapted Health on the Net Foundation Code of Conduct (HONcode) principles of information quality. Physical literacy videos that focused on physical activity and behaviors were the strongest predictor of high quality ratings, followed closely by videos covering affective domains (motivation, confidence, and self-esteem) of physical literacy. The content delivery method was also important, with videos utilizing presentations and testimonials containing high quality information about physical activity. Thus, providers of physical literacy and health-related online video content should be aware of and adhere to the expected quality standards. As health information expectations and ethical standards increase, the Internet, and specifically YouTube, has the potential to enhance video resources, virtual networking opportunities, as well as the sharing, dissemination, accumulation, and enrichment of physical literacy information for all.

scholarly journals You Get What You Pay for on Health Care Question and Answer Platforms: Nonparticipant Observational Study

10.2196/13534 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. e13534
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Ameri ◽  
Kathleen Keeling ◽  
Reza Salehnejad
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Design Features ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Platform Design ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Health Advice ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
Advice Quality

Background Seeking health information on the internet is very popular despite the debatable ability of lay users to evaluate the quality of health information and uneven quality of information available on the Web. Consulting the internet for health information is pervasive, particularly when other sources are inaccessible because of time, distance, and money constraints or when sensitive or embarrassing questions are to be explored. Question and answer (Q&A) platforms are Web-based services that provide personalized health advice upon the information seekers’ request. However, it is not clear how the quality of health advices is ensured on these platforms. Objective The objective of this study was to identify how platform design impacts the quality of Web-based health advices and equal access to health information on the internet. Methods A total of 900 Q&As were collected from 9 Q&A platforms with different design features. Data on the design features for each platform were generated. Paid physicians evaluated the data to quantify the quality of health advices. Guided by the literature, the design features that affected information quality were identified and recorded for each Q&A platform. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and unbiased regression tree methods were used for the analysis. Results Q&A platform design and health advice quality were related. Expertise of information providers (beta=.48; P=.001), financial incentive (beta=.4; P=.001), external reputation (beta=.28; P=.002), and question quality (beta=.12; P=.001) best predicted health advice quality. Virtual incentive, Web 2.0 mechanisms, and reputation systems were not associated with health advice quality. Conclusions Access to high-quality health advices on the internet is unequal and skewed toward high-income and high-literacy groups. However, there are possibilities to generate high-quality health advices for free.

scholarly journals Quality of information sources about mental disorders: a comparison of Wikipedia with centrally controlled web and printed sources

2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (8) ◽  
pp. 1753-1762 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. J. Reavley ◽  
A. J. Mackinnon ◽  
A. J. Morgan ◽  
M. Alvarez-Jimenez ◽  
S. E. Hetrick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Quality Of Information ◽  
Mental Health Information ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Better Than

BackgroundAlthough mental health information on the internet is often of poor quality, relatively little is known about the quality of websites, such as Wikipedia, that involve participatory information sharing. The aim of this paper was to explore the quality of user-contributed mental health-related information on Wikipedia and compare this with centrally controlled information sources.MethodContent on 10 mental health-related topics was extracted from 14 frequently accessed websites (including Wikipedia) providing information about depression and schizophrenia, Encyclopaedia Britannica, and a psychiatry textbook. The content was rated by experts according to the following criteria: accuracy, up-to-dateness, breadth of coverage, referencing and readability.ResultsRatings varied significantly between resources according to topic. Across all topics, Wikipedia was the most highly rated in all domains except readability.ConclusionsThe quality of information on depression and schizophrenia on Wikipedia is generally as good as, or better than, that provided by centrally controlled websites, Encyclopaedia Britannica and a psychiatry textbook.

scholarly journals Is YouTube a Reliable Source of Health-Related Information? A Systematic Review 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wael Osman ◽  
Fatma Mohamed ◽  
Mohamed Elhassan ◽  
Abdulhadi Shoufan
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Scoring Systems ◽  
Professional Associations ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Qualitative Synthesis ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related

Abstract Background: You Tube is a valuable source of health-related educational material which can have a profound impact on people's health-related behaviors and decisions. However, YouTube contains a wide variety of unverified content that may promote unhealthy behaviors and activities. We aim in this systematic review to provide insight into the published literature concerning the quality of health information and educational videos found on YouTube.Methods: A search of peer-reviewed original articles was conducted regarding the educational value of YouTube medical videos which were published in English. We searched Google Scholar, Medline (through PubMed), EMBASE, Scopus, Direct Science, Web of Science, and ProQuest databases. A literature search was conducted between April 1 and April 31 of 2021. Based on the eligibility criteria, 202 artilces covering 30 medical categories were included in the qualitative synthesis.Results: We reviewed approximately 22,300 videos in all of the studies we reviewed, with a mean of 115 videos per paper, which were assessed by 2.6 assessors. The quality of the videos was rated based on either scores or categories. Researchers commonly employed scoring systems that were either standardized (e.g., GQS, DISCERN, and JAMA) or based upon the guidelines and recommendations of professional associations. The results using different scores indicated an average to below-average quality. According to our aggregate quality assessment data, most of the videos were of poor quality. In terms of bias, only 32% of the videos appear neutral toward the health content, indicating that bias occurs frequently in these videos. Furthermore, the majority of the studies found a negative correlation between the quality and popularity of the videos.Conclusions: YouTube is currently a poor to average source of health information. Furthermore, YouTube metrics are indeed tricky and can be misleading when determining the quality of videos. The future solution should be to implement ranking filtering algorithms that consider experts' endorsements, peer-review, and other metrics that can push up endorsed videos in the search results.

scholarly journals Website Quality To Increase Franchise Marketing Performance Excellent

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 121
Author(s):  
Erwin Halim ◽  
Yohannes Kurniawan
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Quality Information ◽  
System Quality ◽  
Website Quality ◽  
Marketing Performance ◽  
Intention To Purchase ◽  
Use Of The Internet

According to Indonesia Association of Service Provider (APJII) survey in 2014, the internet user in Indonesia increased up to around 88 million. This number expresses that the use of the internet to seek business franchise information will increase as well. The increase of internet using should be followed by the quality of franchisor's website. The franchisor's website will relate to system quality, information quality and service quality (DeLone and McLean, 2003). This research uses SEM LISREL to see the loading factors of each indicator impact in variables and website quality variables impact to intention to purchase franchise. The result shows that all variables (System quality, Information Quality, and Service Quality) give significant impact to dependent variable Website Quality.

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