Health information on the Internet: accessibility, quality, and readability in English and Spanish.
JAMA
; 285(20): 2612-21, 2001.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11368735
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT Despite the substantial amount of health-related information available on the Internet, little is known about the accessibility, quality, and reading grade level of that health information. OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate health information on breast cancer, depression, obesity, and childhood asthma available through English- and Spanish-language search engines and Web sites. DESIGN ANDSETTING:
Three unique studies were performed from July 2000 through December 2000. Accessibility of 14 search engines was assessed using a structured search experiment. Quality of 25 health Web sites and content provided by 1 search engine was evaluated by 34 physicians using structured implicit review (interrater reliability >0.90). The reading grade level of text selected for structured implicit review was established using the Fry Readability Graph method. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
For the accessibility study, proportion of links leading to relevant content; for quality, coverage and accuracy of key clinical elements; and grade level reading formulas.RESULTS:
Less than one quarter of the search engine's first pages of links led to relevant content (20% of English and 12% of Spanish). On average, 45% of the clinical elements on English- and 22% on Spanish-language Web sites were more than minimally covered and completely accurate and 24% of the clinical elements on English- and 53% on Spanish-language Web sites were not covered at all. All English and 86% of Spanish Web sites required high school level or greater reading ability.CONCLUSION:
Accessing health information using search engines and simple search terms is not efficient. Coverage of key information on English- and Spanish-language Web sites is poor and inconsistent, although the accuracy of the information provided is generally good. High reading levels are required to comprehend Web-based health information.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Informática Médica
/
Educación en Salud
/
Internet
/
Servicios de Información
/
Lenguaje
Tipo de estudio:
Evaluation_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
JAMA
Año:
2001
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos