Abstract
BackgroundThe increasing popularity and use of the internet makes it an attractive option for providing health information and treatment, including alcohol/other drug use. There is limited research examining how people identify and access information about alcohol or other drug (AOD) use online, or how they assess the usefulness of the information presented. This study examined the strategies that individuals used to identify and navigate a range of AOD websites, along with the attitudes concerning presentation and content.MethodsMembers of the general community in Brisbane and Roma (Queensland, Australia) were invited to participate in a 30-minute search of the internet for sites related to AOD use, followed by a focus group discussion. Fifty one subjects participated in the study across nine focus groups.ResultsParticipants spent a maximum of 6.5 minutes on any one website, and less if the user was under 25 years of age. Time spent was as little as 2 minutes if the website was not the first accessed. Participants recommended that AOD-related websites should have an engaging home or index page, which quickly and accurately portrayed the site's objectives, and provided clear site navigation options. Website content should clearly match the title and description of the site that is used by internet search engines. Participants supported the development of a portal for AOD websites, suggesting that it would greatly facilitate access and navigation.Treatment programs delivered online were initially viewed with caution. This appeared to be due to limited understanding of what constituted online treatment, including its potential efficacy.ConclusionsA range of recommendations arise from this study regarding the design and development of websites, particularly those related to AOD use. These include prudent use of text and information on any one webpage, the use of graphics and colours, and clear, uncluttered navigation options. Implications for future website development are discussed.
Highlights
The increasing popularity and use of the internet makes it an attractive option for providing health information and treatment, including alcohol/other drug use
This paper reports on direct observation of online use of alcohol or other drug (AOD) websites by members of the general community, and results of subsequent focus group discussions
The key observations arising from this study are related to how the sample identified and selected AOD websites to visit, recommendations regarding the content, presentation and navigation of AOD websites, and preferences for how the internet might be used for AOD-related concerns
Summary
The increasing popularity and use of the internet makes it an attractive option for providing health information and treatment, including alcohol/other drug use. The incidence of substance use disorders (excluding nicotine use) in the general population is approximately 9% [3], making it one of the most common mental health problems in western society [4]. Add to this the negative impact such disorders can have upon physical health, psychological status and social functioning [5], along with the prediction that by 2020 the global burden of disease attributable to alcohol and illicit drug use will be in the range of 30,962,000 lives [6], substance use represents a significant public health issue.
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