Online Trust and Health Information Websites

Corritore, Cynthia L.; Wiedenbeck, Susan; Kracher, Beverly; Marble, Robert P.

doi:10.4018/jthi.2012100106

Cited by 57 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…For example, Freeman and Spyridakis [37] in their study on the measure of Web-based credibility, described credibility itself as being defined by two main components: trustworthiness and expertise, but Corritore et al [11] found that credibility was one of the direct predictors of trust. The objectivity of the information is also equally important and usually defined by authors in terms of how impartial and unbiased the source is.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trust and Credibility in Web-Based Health Information: A Review and Agenda for Future Research

Sbaffi¹,

Rowley²

2017

J Med Internet Res

395

266

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BackgroundInternet sources are becoming increasingly important in seeking health information, such that they may have a significant effect on health care decisions and outcomes. Hence, given the wide range of different sources of Web-based health information (WHI) from different organizations and individuals, it is important to understand how information seekers evaluate and select the sources that they use, and more specifically, how they assess their credibility and trustworthiness.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to review empirical studies on trust and credibility in the use of WHI. The article seeks to present a profile of the research conducted on trust and credibility in WHI seeking, to identify the factors that impact judgments of trustworthiness and credibility, and to explore the role of demographic factors affecting trust formation. On this basis, it aimed to identify the gaps in current knowledge and to propose an agenda for future research.MethodsA systematic literature review was conducted. Searches were conducted using a variety of combinations of the terms WHI, trust, credibility, and their variants in four multi-disciplinary and four health-oriented databases. Articles selected were published in English from 2000 onwards; this process generated 3827 unique records. After the application of the exclusion criteria, 73 were analyzed fully.ResultsInterest in this topic has persisted over the last 15 years, with articles being published in medicine, social science, and computer science and originating mostly from the United States and the United Kingdom. Documents in the final dataset fell into 3 categories: (1) those using trust or credibility as a dependent variable, (2) those using trust or credibility as an independent variable, and (3) studies of the demographic factors that influence the role of trust or credibility in WHI seeking. There is a consensus that website design, clear layout, interactive features, and the authority of the owner have a positive effect on trust or credibility, whereas advertising has a negative effect. With regard to content features, authority of the author, ease of use, and content have a positive effect on trust or credibility formation. Demographic factors influencing trust formation are age, gender, and perceived health status.ConclusionsThere is considerable scope for further research. This includes increased clarity of the interaction between the variables associated with health information seeking, increased consistency on the measurement of trust and credibility, a greater focus on specific WHI sources, and enhanced understanding of the impact of demographic variables on trust and credibility judgments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trust and Credibility in Web-Based Health Information: A Review and Agenda for Future Research

Sbaffi¹,

Rowley²

2017

J Med Internet Res

395

266

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“…In addition, Corritore et al. () showed that trust in health websites was significantly explained by students' perceptions of website credibility, ease of use, and risk, while Robins, Holmes, and Stansbury () demonstrated that visual design judgments correlate with credibility ratings of health information websites. Recently, Rowley, Johnson, and Sbaffi () developed a scale that shows that authority, style, content, usefulness, brand, ease of use, recommendation, credibility, and verification are all influencers of trust formation in online health information seeking.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, health information seekers encounter a plethora of different web‐based and other sources of health information, from a variety of organizations and individuals, and of varying quality, accuracy, and reliability (Eysenbach & Kohler, ; Fergie, Hunt, & Hilton, ; Kitchens, Harle, & Li, ). This presents individuals with significant challenges in evaluating and selecting the sources to use, and more specifically in assessing the credibility and trustworthiness of those sources (Corritore, Wiedenbeck, Kracher, & Marble, ; Gray, Kelin, Noyce, Sesselberg, & Cantrill, ; Metzger & Flanagin, ). Furthermore, consumers may lack the motivation or literacy skills to evaluate the information quality of health web pages, and digital inequalities may influence the extent of individual's health information repertoires (Chen, Lee, Straubhaar, & Spence, ; Stvilia, Mon, & Yi, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender as an influencer of online health information‐seeking and evaluation behavior

Rowley

Johnson

Sbaffi

2015

Asso for Info Science & Tech

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This article contributes to the growing body of research that explores the significance of context in health information behavior. Specifically, through the lens of trust judgments, it demonstrates that gender is a determinant of the information evaluation process. A questionnairebased survey collected data from adults regarding the factors that influence their judgment of the trustworthiness of online health information. Both men and women identified credibility, recommendation, ease of use, and brand as being of importance in their trust judgments. However, women also take into account style, while men eschew this for familiarity. In addition, men appear to be more concerned with the comprehensiveness and accuracy of the information, the ease with which they can access it, and its familiarity, whereas women demonstrate greater interest in cognition, such as the ease with which they can read and understand the information. These gender differences are consistent with the demographic data, which suggest that: women consult more types of sources than men; men are more likely to be searching with respect to a long-standing health complaint; and, women are more likely than men to use tablets in their health information seeking. Recommendations for further research to better inform practice are offered.

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“…15,35]. The relevance, quality, usefulness and accuracy of information are known determinants that the information content is trustworthy [36]. The presentation, ease of use and clarity of information are linked to perceptions of 'professionalism' that, again, underpin judgements of trust [37]; [4]; [38] and, finally, the beliefs about objectivity and impartiality of the source also ensure trust [15], [16].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Revised Model of Trust in Internet-Based Health Information and Advice: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study (Preprint)

Sillence¹,

Blythe²,

Briggs³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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Background: The Internet continues to offer new forms of support for health decision making. Government, charity and commercial health websites increasingly offer a platform for shared personal health experiences and these are just some of the opportunities that have arisen in a largely unregulated arena. Understanding how people trust and act on the information they find online has always been an important issue and remains so, particularly as the design and advertising practices of health websites continue to evolve and raise further concerns and challenges regarding their trustworthiness.

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Online Trust and Health Information Websites

Cited by 57 publications

References 58 publications

Trust and Credibility in Web-Based Health Information: A Review and Agenda for Future Research

Trust and Credibility in Web-Based Health Information: A Review and Agenda for Future Research

Gender as an influencer of online health information‐seeking and evaluation behavior

A Revised Model of Trust in Internet-Based Health Information and Advice: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study (Preprint)

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