Quality of health information on the Web: user perceptions of relevance and reliability

Abstract

Relevance is the central concept in information retrieval yet studies of the quality of health Web sites have focused exclusively on the reliability of on-line health information. Results from the Web survey component of a multi-method study of Canadian women who seek health information on the Web reveal the importance of relevance as an attribute of quality assessment. Gender differences in health conditions and the geographical context of health information and delivery of health services are identified by study participants as dimensions of the contextual or situational relevance of health information. Survey respondents rated 13 types of health information sources in terms of their perceived relevance and reliability. Health care practitioners, books and pamphlets/fact sheets received high ratings on both attributes of source quality. Web sites received favourable ratings on relevance but intermediate on reliability.