Mitchell, S. Women Wading Through the Web : providing women with the tools to evaluate online health information This slideshow, presented at Medicine 2.0’08 , Sept 4/5 th , 2008, in Toronto, was uploaded on behalf of the presenter by the Medicine 2.0 team Do not miss the next Medicine 2.0 congress on 17/18th Sept 2009 ( www.medicine20congress.com ) Order Audio Recordings (mp3) of Medicine 2.0’08 presentations at http://www.medicine20congress.com/mp3.php

This slideshow, presented at Medicine 2.0’08 , Sept 4/5 th , 2008, in Toronto, was uploaded on behalf of the presenter by the Medicine 2.0 team

Do not miss the next Medicine 2.0 congress on 17/18th Sept 2009 ( www.medicine20congress.com )

Order Audio Recordings (mp3) of Medicine 2.0’08 presentations at http://www.medicine20congress.com/mp3.php

Women Wading Through the Web: providing women with the tools to evaluate online health information Sheryl Mitchell Director, Women’s Health Partnerships Women’s College Hospital

Women Wading Through the Web:

providing women with the tools to

evaluate online health information

Sheryl Mitchell

Director, Women’s Health Partnerships

Women’s College Hospital

“ The greater availability of health information via the Internet will lead to the emergence of more informed patients who are better able to assess the risks and benefits of different treatments for themselves.” Source: Henwood, et al. Ignorance is bliss sometimes: constraints on the emergence of the ‘informed patient’ in the changing landscapes of health information. Sociology Health and Illness. 2003.

“ The greater availability of health information via the Internet will lead to the emergence of more informed patients who are better able to assess the risks and benefits of different treatments for themselves.”

Source: Henwood, et al. Ignorance is bliss sometimes: constraints on the emergence of the ‘informed patient’ in the changing landscapes of health information. Sociology Health and Illness. 2003.

There is ample evidence to suggest that consumers are having difficulty properly assessing the quality of online health information.

There is ample evidence to suggest that consumers are having difficulty properly assessing the quality of online

health information.

Eysenbach lab study: 2002 Participants asked to search for answers to specific health questions. Prior to the search participants identified relevant factors (e.g. source, credentials, citations) None checked About Us section or disclaimers. Most spent only a minute per site. None used medical gateway sites or those of medical societies or libraries. Most were not clear on how to use a search engine effectively . Source: Eysenbach G, et al. Empirical studies assessing the quality of health information for consumers on the world wide web: a systematic review. JAMA. 2002.

Participants asked to search for answers to specific health questions.

Prior to the search participants identified relevant factors (e.g. source, credentials, citations)

None checked About Us section or disclaimers.

Most spent only a minute per site.

None used medical gateway sites or those of medical societies or libraries.

Most were not clear on how to use a search engine effectively .

Source: Eysenbach G, et al. Empirical studies assessing the quality of health information for consumers on the world wide web: a systematic review. JAMA. 2002.

PEW Online Health Report: 2006 When seeking online health information, 75% rarely or never checked the source and date of information. Pew Internet and American Life Project Online Health Report, 2006

When seeking online health information, 75% rarely or never checked the source and date of information.

Pew Internet and American Life Project

Online Health Report, 2006

PEW Online Health Report: 2006 About 25% were overwhelmed by the amount of information they found. 22% were frustrated by lack of relevant information or their inability to locate it. Almost 20% were confused by the information. 10% were frightened by the serious and/or graphic information they found. Pew Internet and American Life Project Online Health Report, 2006

About 25% were overwhelmed by the amount of information they found.

22% were frustrated by lack of relevant information or their inability to locate it.

Almost 20% were confused by the information.

10% were frightened by the serious and/or graphic information they found.

Pew Internet and American Life Project

Online Health Report, 2006

PEW Online Health Report: 2006 Nevertheless, when asked to evaluate their online health information search: 75% felt reassured that they could make appropriate health care decisions. 56% felt relieved or comforted by the information they found. 50% were eager to share the information they found with others. Pew Internet and American Life Project Online Health Report, 2006

Nevertheless, when asked to evaluate their online health information search:

75% felt reassured that they could make appropriate health care decisions.

56% felt relieved or comforted by the information they found.

50% were eager to share the information they found with others.

Pew Internet and American Life Project

Online Health Report, 2006

Center for Studying Health System Change Report: 2008 “ Many consumers report positive effects from online health information—effects such as increased understanding of conditions and treatments and a changed approach toward maintaining their own health.” Source: Center for Studying Health System Change. Striking Jump in Consumers Seeking Health Care Information , August 2008.

“ Many consumers report positive effects from online health information—effects such as increased understanding of conditions and treatments and a changed approach toward maintaining their own health.”

Source: Center for Studying Health System Change. Striking Jump in Consumers Seeking Health Care Information , August 2008.

Center for Studying Health System Change Report: 2008 These self-reported assessments may not represent actual improvements in consumer health behaviors or knowledge. Consumers may not be taking a sufficiently critical approach to the information and may have difficulty processing information correctly. While most information seekers feel empowered by the health information they find, some may be misled by less valid or credible sources. Source: Center for Studying Health System Change. Striking Jump in Consumers Seeking Health Care Information , August 2008.

These self-reported assessments may not represent actual improvements in consumer health behaviors or knowledge.

Consumers may not be taking a sufficiently critical approach to the information and may have difficulty processing information correctly.

While most information seekers feel empowered by the health information they find, some may be misled by less valid or credible sources.

Source: Center for Studying Health System Change. Striking Jump in Consumers Seeking Health Care Information , August 2008.

The Verdict Concerns about the credibility of online health information and the ability of consumers to assess its reliability are especially relevant. Consumers who use online health information resources are at serious risk for obtaining, and acting upon, false and misleading information. As online health information providers we can play a crucial role in supporting consumers’ health information seeking efforts.

Concerns about the credibility of online health information and the ability of consumers to assess its reliability are especially relevant.

Consumers who use online health information resources are at serious risk for obtaining, and acting upon, false and misleading information.

As online health information providers we can play a crucial role in supporting consumers’ health information seeking efforts.

Women Wading Through the Web Project Literature Review Toolkit Development Focus groups: i) health librarians re: Toolkit accuracy and the best way to promote it to their clients; ii) women consumers re: Toolkit content usefulness and the best way to promote it; and iii) local women’s health organizations about the best way to promote the Kit to their constituents/clients. Web community

Literature Review

Toolkit Development

Focus groups:

i) health librarians re: Toolkit accuracy and the best way to promote it to their clients;

ii) women consumers re: Toolkit content usefulness and the best way to promote it; and

iii) local women’s health organizations about the best way to promote the Kit to their constituents/clients.

Web community

Criteria for Assessing Health Websites We reviewed published criteria for evaluating online health information and found that many authors agree on key criteria for evaluating health-related websites.

We reviewed published criteria for evaluating online health information and found that many authors agree on key criteria for evaluating health-related websites.

We found considerable agreement amongst experts regarding the elements that make up ‘good’ online health information websites, both in terms of content and structure.

We found considerable agreement amongst experts regarding the elements that make up ‘good’ online health information websites, both in terms of content and structure.

Criteria for Assessing Health Websites – Expert Perspective Accountability Accuracy Authorship/attribution/authority Completeness Currency Disclaimer Disclosure Objectivity or Balance Privacy Readability Relevance Usability/Accessibility/User-Friendliness

Accountability

Accuracy

Authorship/attribution/authority

Completeness

Currency

Disclaimer

Disclosure

Objectivity or Balance

Privacy

Readability

Relevance

Usability/Accessibility/User-Friendliness

Criteria for Assessing Health Websites – Consumer Perspective Content: Authoritative info/balanced Citation of scientific references Currency Trustworthiness: organization that they’ve heard of Pharma sites not credible; government sites more credible Design: uncluttered; visually appealing; understandable language

Content: Authoritative info/balanced

Citation of scientific references

Currency

Trustworthiness: organization that they’ve heard of

Pharma sites not credible; government sites more credible

Design: uncluttered; visually appealing; understandable language

Women Wading Through the Web Toolkit Components How to use the Internet to search for health information How to judge the quality of a website How to interpret medical research How to understand media and web-based health information Recommended websites

How to use the Internet to search for health information

How to judge the quality of a website

How to interpret medical research

How to understand media and web-based health information

Recommended websites

How to Use the Internet to Search for Health Information Search engines How to use a search engine Subject directories Health portals and specialty health sites Trusted websites The deep web

Search engines

How to use a search engine

Subject directories

Health portals and specialty health sites

Trusted websites

The deep web

How to Judge the Quality of a Website Who is responsible for the website? What is the purpose of the website? Can I understand the website? Is the information accurate, objective and trustworthy? How current is the information? Does the website respect my privacy?

Who is responsible for the website?

What is the purpose of the website?

Can I understand the website?

Is the information accurate, objective and trustworthy?

How current is the information?

Does the website respect my privacy?

How to Interpret Medical Research Types of research studies Research on complementary and alternative medicine Guidelines for evaluating research What do those numbers and risk factors mean? Finding research papers Abstracts and full text of research studies

Types of research studies

Research on complementary and alternative medicine

Guidelines for evaluating research

What do those numbers and risk factors mean?

Finding research papers

Abstracts and full text of research studies

How to understand media and web-based health information First questions Media reports on health information and research studies Web-based reports on health information and research studies Other web-based sources of health information and news

First questions

Media reports on health information and research studies

Web-based reports on health information and research studies

Other web-based sources of health information and news

Go online. Use common sense. Be skeptical.

Go online. Use common sense.

Be skeptical.

Contact Information [email_address] womenshealthmatters.ca

[email_address]

womenshealthmatters.ca