Quality of web-based information on alcohol dependence

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the quality of web-based information on alcohol dependence and to assess particular content quality indicators. Methods: Three keywords, 'alcohol addiction', 'alcohol dependence' and 'alcohol abuse' were entered into three popular World Wide Web search engines. Websites were assessed with a standardized proforma designed to rate sites on the basis of accountability, presentation, interactivity, readability and content quality. 'Health on the Net' (HON) quality label, and DISCERN scale scores aimed to assist persons without content expertise to assess quality of written health publication and were used to verify their efficiency as quality indicators. Results: Of the 180 websites identified, 104 were included. Based on outcome measures, the overall quality of the sites turned-out to be poor. The global scores appeared as good content quality indicators. Conclusions: While alcohol education web sites for patients are widespread, their educational material highly varies in quality and content. Drugs Edu Prev Pol Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of York on 11/21/14 For personal use only. Web-based information on alcohol dependence 249 Drugs Edu Prev Pol Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of York on 11/21/14 For personal use only. Drugs Edu Prev Pol Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of York on 11/21/14 For personal use only. Web-based information on alcohol dependence 251 Drugs Edu Prev Pol Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of York on 11/21/14 For personal use only. Web-based information on alcohol dependence 255 Drugs Edu Prev Pol Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of York on 11/21/14 For personal use only. Web-based information on alcohol dependence 259 Drugs Edu Prev Pol Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of York on 11/21/14 For personal use only.

HON Label and DISCERN as Content Quality Indicators of Health-Related Websites

“…Surprisingly, the origin of the sites (university, commercial…) does not predict content quality in several previous studies [8,9,22,24]. So, sites owned by Universities have usually no better content quality than commercial sites.…”

“…The present study is based on the analysis of data issued from six previous studies [8,9,20,22,25,26] which assessed with a standardized tool the general and content quality (evidence-based health information) of health-related websites for the following domains: gambling, alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, bipolar disorder and social phobia. The first aim of these previous studies was to evaluate the content quality, readability, aesthetic, accountability, and interactivity of websites found with key words requests on general search engines.…”

Quality of Smartphone Apps Related to Alcohol Use Disorder

“…Some of the instruments used in the present study (HON code, Brief DISCERN, Silberg accountability and content quality) were previously included in an assessment of the quality of health information delivered on the Internet or via smartphone apps that showed differences in the assessed constructs [51,52,56,66,73,74,75,76,77]. The other instruments (interactivity and self-help model) were similar to those used in a previous study [76] adapted for smartphone apps in order to include the specific potential of such technology in the assessment.…”

Gesundheitsinformationen im Internet

“…Diese Bewertung liegt tendenziell eher über den durchschnittlichen Bewertungsmaßen der angloamerikanischen Studien, die mehrheitlich die medizinischen und psychologischen Inhalte der Websites von schlecht bis mäßig beurteilten (u. a. Godin et al 2005, Corcoran et al 2009, Khazaal et al 2010. Analog zu einigen anderen Studien (s. z.…”