Why
is Information Published on the Web Different?
Information
published on the World Wide Web is subject to scrutiny because
the information is developed differently. Specifically:
It
is difficult to detect when there is a lack control in the
Web site production. There may not be an editor to
control quality.
Because
you can enter a Web site at any point its presentation,
you are at a "context deficit." For example, it
might be difficult to tell informational site on pain management
from a marketing site for a pain reliever.
It
may be unclear regarding the intended audience of the publication.
Is it a consumer Web site or is the Web site targeting health
care professionals?
It
is possible to read a Web site without viewing the disclaimers
many of which are not published on the first page.
Some
sites use navigation tools that make it seem as though you
are viewing cohesive information, however you may actually
have been linked to a different Web site. Read each new
page and link carefully and evaluate each page for its merit.
Anonymity
of authors may cause problems.
Web
page content may be altered by a computer hacker without
the knowledge of the original author. Check to see when
the page was last updated.
The
Quality Check List
The
popularity of searching for health-related information online
has prompted many organizations to develop criteria for
evaluating the authority and reliability of these Web sites.
One
of the earliest pioneers in this quality initiative is the
international volunteer agency, Health On The Net Foundation
(HON). Founded in 1995 by a group of noted telemedicine
experts, HON was formed because of the need “for systematic
and stringent peer review to improve the quality of medical
information on the Internet.”
The
result was the development of the HON quality criteria and
a suggested review process that can earn the Web site the
HON seal of approval.
The
Health on the Net Foundation focuses on eight basic principles:
Authority:
Any health advice provided will only be given
by a trained qualified professional.
Complementarity:
The information is designed to support not replace
the relationship that exists between a patient and her/his
physician.
Confidentiality:
Confidentiality of data relating to individual
patients and visits is respected.
Attribution:
Information contained within the site will be
supported by clear references to source data.
Justifiability:
Any claims related to benefits/and performance
are supported by appropriate, balanced evidence.
Transparency
of authority: The designers will provide information
in the clearest possible manner and provide contact addresses.
Transparency
of sponsorship: The support for the website must
be clearly identified.
Honesty
in advertising: If advertising is a source of
funding it must be clearly stated.
The
criteria, originally crafted in 1996, have been adopted
by hundreds of health related Web sites and have been translated
and are in use in 26 different language versions.
HON
LINK
Learn
more about the HON Foundation and familiarize yourself with
the HON quality seal of approval by visiting the following
Web address:
Learn
more about evaluating the quality of information published online
by visiting the following Web sites.
Internet
American
Medical Association (AMA)
The
AMA is the professional organization of medical doctors in
the United States. Principles adopted by the American Medical
Association are not laws, but standards of conduct that define
the essentials of honorable behavior for the physician.
The
AMA publishes Guidelines for medical and health care information
found online available at the following Web address:
Harvard
School of Public Health's Center for Risk Analysis
The
Harvard School of Public Health's Center for Risk Analysis
sponsored a project aimed at helping consumers evaluate health
and scientific information and to consider how the information
can be used to improve their lives.
The
Harvard School of Public Health's Center for Risk Analysis
project titled, Consumers Guide to Taking Charge of Health
Care Information, is available at the following Web address:
The
IHC has been working since 1997 to provide clear guidance
for evaluating online sources of health information.
The Coalition is comprised of for profit, not-for-profit,
academic institutions, and special interest groups dedicated
to promoting quality health care information on the World
Wide Web.
The
Michigan e Library is sponsored by the state of Michigan and
offers a meta listing of links to sites that offer education
about how to evaluate the quality of online health care resources.
The
Michigan e Library Evaluating Health Information on the Internet
resources are available at the following Web address:
Health
Summit Work Group (HSWG) of Mitretek Systems
During
the years from 1996-1998, The Health Information Technology
Institute of Mitretek Systems convened a Health Summit Working
Group. Participants included representatives of the general
public, as well as health-care providers, medical librarians
and related information resources professionals, and website
developers affiliated with numerous organizations in the health-care
and information communities. Supported in part by the Agency
for Health Care Policy and Research, Conference Grant #R13
HS09549-01, the group developed criteria for assessing the
quality of information found online.
The
HSWG of Mitretek criteria for assessing the quality of information
found online is available at the following Web address:
