University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Training the Health Information Seeker: Quality Issues in Health Information Web Sites

Crespo, Javier

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/1732

Description

Title
Training the Health Information Seeker: Quality Issues in Health Information Web Sites
Author(s)
Crespo, Javier
Issue Date
2004
Keyword(s)
  • Consumer health information
  • Health information
  • Public services (Libraries)
Abstract
This article explores evaluation issues in online consumer health information within the context of librarians as educators and intermediaries. Literature on Internet and health information seekers reveals that health information returned by search engines is generally accepted without critical appraisal. Reported and observational studies of users show a disconnect between what users say they know and their actions in finding and assessing the appropriateness of health information. A growing body of literature assessing the accuracy, comprehensiveness, and attribution reporting of health information finds these areas lacking and contributing to the poor assessment of quality. Several quality initiatives representative of available criteria sets, accreditation bodies, and teaching aids are discussed. A rationale for providing some type of evaluative or critical appraisal component is offered.
Publisher
Graduate School of Library and Information Science. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
ISSN
0024-2594
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/1732
Copyright and License Information
Copyright owned by Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2004.

Owning Collections

Library Trends 53 (2) Fall 2004: Consumer Health Issues, Trends, and Research, Part I: Strategic Strides toward a Better Future PRIMARY
Library Trends 53 (2) Fall 2004: Consumer Health Issues, Trends, and Research, Part I: Strategic Strides toward a Better Future. Edited by Tammy L. Mays