Sundeep Chumber1, Jörg Huber2, Pietro Ghezzi1. 1. Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton, UK (Mr Chumber, Dr Ghezzi) 2. University of Brighton, School of Health Sciences, Falmer, Brighton, UK (Dr Huber)
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to evaluate the criteria used to assess the quality of information on diabetic neuropathy on the Internet. METHODS: Different search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing, and Ask) and 1 governmental health website (MedlinePlus) were studied. The websites returned (200 for each search engine) were then classified according to their affiliation (eg, commercial, professional, patient groups). A scoring system was devised from the literature to assess quality of information. Websites were also analyzed using the 2 most widely used instruments for assessing the quality of health information, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) scoring system and the Health On the Net Foundation (HON) certification. RESULTS: Professional websites or health portals scored better according to most criteria. Google and MedlinePlus returned results scoring significantly higher than other engines in some of the criteria. The use of different instruments gave different results and indicates that the JAMA score and the HON certification may not be sufficient ones. CONCLUSIONS: This methodology could be used to evaluate the reliability and trustworthiness of information on the Internet on different topics to identify topic areas or websites where the available information is not appropriate.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to evaluate the criteria used to assess the quality of information on diabetic neuropathy on the Internet. METHODS: Different search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing, and Ask) and 1 governmental health website (MedlinePlus) were studied. The websites returned (200 for each search engine) were then classified according to their affiliation (eg, commercial, professional, patient groups). A scoring system was devised from the literature to assess quality of information. Websites were also analyzed using the 2 most widely used instruments for assessing the quality of health information, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) scoring system and the Health On the Net Foundation (HON) certification. RESULTS: Professional websites or health portals scored better according to most criteria. Google and MedlinePlus returned results scoring significantly higher than other engines in some of the criteria. The use of different instruments gave different results and indicates that the JAMA score and the HON certification may not be sufficient ones. CONCLUSIONS: This methodology could be used to evaluate the reliability and trustworthiness of information on the Internet on different topics to identify topic areas or websites where the available information is not appropriate.
Authors: Danielle Jawad; Heilok Cheng; Li Ming Wen; Chris Rissel; Louise Baur; Seema Mihrshahi; Sarah Taki Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2022-10-07 Impact factor: 7.076
Authors: Hendrik Borgmann; Jan-Henning Wölm; Stefan Vallo; Rene Mager; Johannes Huber; Johannes Breyer; Johannes Salem; Stacy Loeb; Axel Haferkamp; Igor Tsaur Journal: J Cancer Educ Date: 2017-03 Impact factor: 2.037