Evaluating Web Sites Research Articles

Evaluation of Online Information on Complementary and Alternative Treatments for Dry Eye Disease.

Dry eye disease is a common condition with many complementary and alternative therapies promoted online. Patients may inquire about these therapies, and clinicians should be aware of the existence, safety, and efficacy of these therapies, as well as the quality of available online information. Complementary and alternative medicine is a multibillion-dollar industry with increasing popularity. Dry eye disease is a chronic condition with many complementary and alternative therapies described online. Patients may inquire about and elect to forgo conventional treatments in favor of these therapies. This study identified alternative treatments for dry eye disease described online and evaluated the Web sites that described them. An Internet search algorithm identified Web sites describing complementary and alternative therapies for dry eye disease. Web site quality was assessed using the Sandvik score to evaluate Web site ownership, authorship, source, currency, interactivity, navigability, and balance. The potential risk of Web sites to patients was assessed using a risk scoring system. A list of described therapies was compiled. Eight Web sites describing complementary and alternative therapies for dry eye disease were assessed. The Sandvik score classified more than half of the Web sites as "satisfactory" and none as "poor." The overall mean risk score was low at 0.9. One Web site displayed information that discouraged the use of conventional medicine, whereas no Web sites discouraged adhering to clinicians' advice. The Web sites listed 12 therapies with a further 32 found in Web site comments. The most common therapies were acupuncture, vitamin supplements, homeopathic eye drops, castor oil, coconut oil, and chamomile eye wash. The majority of analyzed Web sites were of satisfactory quality with a low potential risk to patients. However, some Web sites were biased toward their own therapies, lacked proper referencing, and/or did not identify authorship. Further research is required to ascertain the efficacy and safety of these therapies.

Male infertility websites: what are our patients reading?

People ages 20-45 years (reproductive age) have been shown to use the Internet as a source of health information more frequently than their older counterparts. We sought to evaluate the quality and readability of highly visible websites on male infertility. Structured website review. Using Google, the first 60 relevant websites from the search “male infertility” were classified by source and analyzed. Content was evaluated by 4 blinded reviewers. We chose Google because it is the most widely used search engine, comprising 74.5% of Internet searches. Website quality of information was evaluated using the DISCERN score (assesses the quality of written information on treatment choices for a health problem), JAMA benchmark criteria (uses four core standards to evaluate web sites: authorship, attribution, disclosure, currency), and Health on the Net code (HONcode) accreditation status (assesses the reliability and credibility of online information). Readability was assessed using the Dale-Chall and Flesh Reading Ease indexes. Websites were classified as: 43% hospital based, 12% fertility clinic based, 5% other clinic based, 33% society/association based, and 7% government based. The mean total DISCERN score was 44 ± 12 (maximum score 80). 75% (45/60) of websites had clear aims or achieved their aims (scores of 4 or 5 [good]), but only 15% (9/60) described areas of clinical uncertainty. 25% (15/60) described the benefits of treatments, but only 5% (3/60) described the risks of treatments. 72% (43/60) provided unbiased information. 68% (41/60) websites made it clear that there was more than one possible treatment choice. 27% (16/60) of websites encouraged shared decision making. Overall, 60% (36/60) of websites were “poor quality” (score 1-2-3) on the final question of the DISCERN instrument. Only 4/60 (6.7%) websites met all four JAMA benchmark criteria. The mean Dale-Chall score was 9.53 +/- 1.30, indicating a college or graduate degree level of readability. The mean Flesh Reading Ease index was 34.01 +/- 16.26, indicating a graduate degree level of readability. 20% (12/60) of websites were HONcode certified. Websites on “male infertility” are of low quality, and only 6.7% met JAMA benchmark criteria. Minimal information on treatments was present, with only 25% of websites describing treatment benefits, but only 5% describing treatment risks. Only 15% of websites described areas of clinical uncertainty. Despite that these websites were written at a college to graduate degree level of reading, only 27% encouraged shared decision making. Reassuringly, most of these websites were hospital based, and 72% provided unbiased information. Patients should be cautioned that incomplete and potentially biased information on male infertility is prevalent online.

Online teaching and biblical studies

AbstractThis Forum emerges from a session initiated by the Professional Development Committee at the 2017 conference of the Society of Biblical Literature in Boston. A panel of five Bible scholars, from both theological education and undergraduate contexts, provide brief descriptions and analyses of a specific course they have taught online. They describe creative assignments such as role play, online field trips, evaluating web sites, and staged debates. They analyze the opportunities for developing undergraduates' critical thinking skills as well as seminarians' formation for ministry. A comparison of online and face‐to‐face teaching contexts reveals shifts in our understanding of how learning happens and our own identities as teachers. The Forum concludes with questions from the floor, which turn the conversation toward institutional support for pedagogical and technological hurdles.

Off-Line Evaluation of Mobile-Centric Indoor Positioning Systems: The Experiences from the 2017 IPIN Competition.

The development of indoor positioning solutions using smartphones is a growing activity with an enormous potential for everyday life and professional applications. The research activities on this topic concentrate on the development of new positioning solutions that are tested in specific environments under their own evaluation metrics. To explore the real positioning quality of smartphone-based solutions and their capabilities for seamlessly adapting to different scenarios, it is needed to find fair evaluation frameworks. The design of competitions using extensive pre-recorded datasets is a valid way to generate open data for comparing the different solutions created by research teams. In this paper, we discuss the details of the 2017 IPIN indoor localization competition, the different datasets created, the teams participating in the event, and the results they obtained. We compare these results with other competition-based approaches (Microsoft and Perf-loc) and on-line evaluation web sites. The lessons learned by organising these competitions and the benefits for the community are addressed along the paper. Our analysis paves the way for future developments on the standardization of evaluations and for creating a widely-adopted benchmark strategy for researchers and companies in the field.

Breast-feeding and malocclusions: The quality and level of evidence on the Internet for the public

BackgroundThe authors sought to assess the quality of information on the Internet for laypeople regarding the effect of breast-feeding on malocclusions and to determine the levels of evidence of the articles cited to support the information. MethodsThe first author (E.J.D.) entered a key word term, “breast-feeding and crooked teeth,” and a natural language term, “does breast-feeding protect against crooked teeth,” into 4 search engines. The author performed consecutive sampling of every Web site until 5 Web sites were identified that fulfilled the inclusion criteria per search engine, per search term, producing 40 Web sites for evaluation. The author assessed quality using the LIDA instrument and determined the levels of evidence of the cited articles according to the Joanna Briggs Institute Levels of Evidence. ResultsThe author determined that the quality of the Web sites was moderate, represented by a median overall LIDA score of 73%. The author identified only 2 high-quality Web sites. Nearly one-half of the Web sites cited a combined total of 10 scientific articles to support their content, and these ranged from moderate to very low levels of evidence. ConclusionsThe authors found the quality of freely available information on the Internet for laypeople about the protective effect of breast-feeding against malocclusions to be moderate and that the evidence base cited to support the content ranged from moderate to very low levels of evidence. Practical ImplicationsIncreasingly, patients are seeking health information online, although not all information is credible. Dental heath care practitioners should regularly review their practices’ Web sites to ensure that they are accessible and that the content is usable, reliable, and up-to-date, particularly as new, higher-level evidence becomes available.

Library Web sites for people with disability: accessibility evaluation of library websites in Pakistan

Purpose – This study aims to assess the accessibility of library Web sites of top ten universities of Pakistan. The study also explores commonly identifies accessibility barriers in the subject Web sites. Accessibility analysis of library Web sites has been conducted using Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool (WAET) to examine compliance of the library Web site with Web Content Accessibility Guideline 2.0. The study also attempts to rank each Web site according to number of quality issues identified. Based on literature review, the study also proposes a framework to conduct Web accessibility evaluation of library Web sites. Web accessibility encompasses all disabilities that affect access to the Web, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive and aging (old-age). Design/methodology/approach – This study examines accessibility of subject Web sites using automated accessibility evaluation tool based on Library Web site Accessibility Evaluation Framework (LWAEF). Commercial WAET SortSite® was used to assess accessibility issues in library Web sites. The tool was also tested to validate components of the LWAEF. Findings – Result shows that 70 per cent of library Web sites do comply with World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standards. It means that compliance to essential guidelines of priority A level of WCAG 2.0 are finely met by 70 per cent library Web sites of Pakistan. However, important accessibility issues still exist in the subject Web sites. Moreover, in terms of accessibility issues, overall quality of university library Web sites in Pakistan is in better condition. Originality/value – Equal access to information by all citizens is an important UN charter supported by all developing countries. Assessing the needs of all citizens has been of great importance and value to developing countries like Pakistan, with 19.2 per cent population consisting of disabled people. The paper presents the overall status of accessibility to information and is conducted to focus the library Web sites of Pakistan for the first time. Focusing the library Web sites for accessibility evaluation, this research study will help improve accessibility elements of library Web sites in other developing countries also.

Quality of online physical activity information for long-haul truck drivers

Purpose – Most long-haul truck drivers are physically inactive. Despite being identified as a source of health information, online physical activity and exercise information has not been evaluated for this population. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the accessibility, accuracy, technical and theoretical quality, and readability of online physical activity, exercise, and sport information for long-haul truck drivers. Design/methodology/approach – A standardized protocol was followed to identify and evaluate web sites. Web sites were included in the review if they met the following criteria: first, presented information on physical activity, exercise, or sport; second, provided information for long-haul truck drivers; and finally, provided information in English. Each web site was evaluated independently by the two study authors. After evaluating the web sites independently, the authors then met to discuss each construct for each web site. Findings – Overall, 44 web sites were reviewed. Nine web sites provided information based on physical activity guidelines. Most web sites scored poorly on technical and theoretical quality. In total, 28 web sites provided information that was written above the recommended grade 8 reading level. Research limitations/implications – Research has shown that theoretically designed physical activity and exercise interventions are more successful than those with no theoretical underpinnings. Creating web sites or online applications using behavioral theory and improving the readability of online health information may help increase levels of physical activity and improve overall health for this population. Originality/value – No previous research has examined the quality of online physical activity, exercise, or sport information for long-haul truck drivers. This is the first study to examine how online health information for this population can be improved.

Systematic Review of Internet Patient Information on Colorectal Cancer Surgery

Patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer often seek information on the Internet to help them make treatment decisions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of Web-based patient information regarding surgery for colorectal cancer. This study is a cross-sectional survey of patient-directed Web sites. The search engine Google (Mountain View, CA) and the search terms "colorectal cancer surgery," "colon cancer surgery," and "rectal cancer surgery" were used to identify Web sites. To assess quality, we used the DISCERN instrument, a validated questionnaire developed to analyze written consumer health information on treatment options to aid consumers in evaluating the quality of health-related information on treatment choices for a specific health problem. An additional colorectal cancer-specific questionnaire was used to evaluate Web site content for colorectal cancer surgical treatment. Two independent assessors reviewed each Web site. Searches revealed a total of 91 distinct Web sites, of which 37 met inclusion criteria. Web site affiliation was as follows: 32% open-access general information, 24% hospital/health care organization, and 19% professional medical society. Twelve (32.4%) Web sites had clear aims, 10 (27.0%) had identifiable references to their sources of information, and 9 (24.3%) noted the date of published information. Ten sites (27.0%) provided some description of the surgical procedure, 8 (21.6%) discussed either the risks or the benefits of surgery, and 4 (10.8%) addressed quality-of-life issues. Nineteen (51.4%) Web sites discussed postoperative complications, and 7 (18.9%) discussed stoma-related maintenance/care. The small sample size and interrater reliability bias are limitations of this study. The quality of online patient information regarding colorectal cancer treatment is highly variable, often incomplete, and does not adequately convey the information necessary for patients to make well-informed medical decisions regarding treatment for colorectal cancer. An opportunity exists for professional medical societies to create more comprehensive online patient information materials that may serve as a resource to physicians and their patients (see Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/DCR/A122).

Information for Patients With or at Risk of Cancer-Related Lymphedema

The Internet has great potential to provide information to patients with or at risk of developing cancer-related lymphedema (CRL), a complication of cancer treatment. To evaluate Web site structure (e.g., accreditation, design) and content (e.g., validity) for available Web sites on CRL, lymphedema, lymphoedema, cancer, and oncology were used with 10 search engines (five French and five English). The first page of each Web site was examined and the content was identified and classified using the evaluation model of the Science Panel on Interactive Communication and Health. The search strategy yielded 120 Web sites. Using inclusion and exclusion criteria, 19 Web sites were selected. The authors found that 79% of the Web sites focused exclusively on CRL and 74% were in English. Although information about each site's sponsor, goal, and target audience was readily available, content material was incomplete and evaluation of Web site impact and effectiveness was nonexistent. This review suggests that Web sites about CRL vary greatly in terms of structure and content.

An Evaluation of Web Sites Recommended by UK NHS Consultants to Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis at the First Point of Diagnosis

An Internet-based evaluation of Web sites using a validated assessment tool. To evaluate the quality of information on scoliosis Web sites recommended by UK NHS consultants. One of the most common sources of inquiry on the Web is for the purposes of health-related information. The number of Web sites in the field of scoliosis has increased, yet the quality of information is reported to continue to be of poor quality. The 2 previous studies in this area identified Web sites for evaluation through the use of a single search term, "scoliosis," on the 5 most popular search engines. Seven Web sites were identified for inclusion in this study from the results of a survey of UK NHS consultants. These were independently evaluated by 3 reviewers using a validated information assessment tool, the DISCERN instrument. DISCERN scores were analyzed for correlation between reviewers. Web sites were also analyzed for the presence or absence of the quality assurance certification, Health On the Net code. Significant correlations between the DISCERN scores were found for reviewers 1 and 2 (τ = 0.878, P = 0.006) and reviewers 2 and 3 (τ = 0.732, P = 0.029). The highest mean cumulative score for all items achieved by any of the Web sites evaluated was 49 (maximum = 80, minimum = 15). Only one Web site was found to display the Health On the Net code. Healthcare professionals should be aware of the content of Web sites that they recommend to patients. Web sites should be designed so the content suits patient needs. Web sites should be maintained such that content is up to date, evidence based, impartial, and written in plain language. N/A.

Peer and Professional Parenting Support on the Internet: A Systematic Review

The Internet offers many opportunities to provide parenting support. An overview of empirical studies in this domain is lacking, and little is known about the design of web based parenting resources and their evaluations, raising questions about its position in the context of parenting intervention programs. This article is a systematic review of empirical studies (n=75), published between 1998 and 2010, that describe resources of peer and professional online support for parents. These studies generally report positive outcomes of online parenting support. A number of recent experimental studies evaluated effects, including randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental designs (totaling 1,615 parents and 740 children). A relatively large proportion of the studies in our sample reported a content analysis of e-mails and posts (totaling 15,059 coded messages). The results of this review show that the Internet offers a variety of opportunities for sharing peer support and consulting professionals. The field of study reflects an emphasis on online resources for parents of preschool children, concerning health topics and providing professional support. A range of technologies to facilitate online communication is applied in evaluated Web sites, although the combination of multiple components in one resource is not very common. The first generation of online resources has already changed parenting and parenting support for a large group of parents and professionals. Suggestions for future development and research are discussed.

Health and Medication Information Resources on the World Wide Web

Health care practitioners have increasingly used the Internet to obtain health and medication information. The vast number of Internet Web sites providing such information and concerns with their reliability makes it essential for users to carefully select and evaluate Web sites prior to use. To this end, this article reviews the general principles to consider in this process. Moreover, as cost may limit access to subscription-based health and medication information resources with established reputability, freely accessible online resources that may serve as an invaluable addition to one’s reference collection are highlighted. These include government- and organization-sponsored resources (eg, US Food and Drug Administration Web site and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ Drug Shortage Resource Center Web site, respectively) as well as commercial Web sites (eg, Medscape, Google Scholar). Familiarity with such online resources can assist health care professionals in their ability to efficiently navigate the Web and may potentially expedite the information gathering and decision-making process, thereby improving patient care.

Sustainability accounting courses, Talloires Declaration and academic research

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to identify the offering and nature (scope) of sustainability accounting courses at universities that have signed the Talloires Declaration and also at universities with prominent sustainability accounting researchers' affiliations. For this purpose a university web sites content analysis for sustainability accounting courses was conducted. This study can be replicated in order to evaluate web sites disclosures by universities across disciplines in relation to sustainability education. It can also be replicated to assess the theoretical versus implemented scope of sustainability education, and to determine the impact of prominent researchers in the area of sustainability education.Design/methodology/approachTalloires Declaration signatories' universities' web sites were searched for information regarding sustainability accounting subjects. A search was also conducted for the Curriculum Vitae and profile of prominent sustainability accounting researchers to collect data on involvement in sustainability accounting education by these researchers. The findings regarding the offering of a sustainability accounting course and its nature and scope (if found on the web sites) are presented in this article.FindingsIt is found that less than 30 per cent of the Talloires Declaration universities' web sites in Canada, USA, United Kingdom and Australia have information on sustainability accounting education in various forms including stand alone subjects (all electives) and sustainability accounting embedded in other accounting and non accounting courses, with limited scope. This percentage was found to be substantially lower or non‐existent at universities from other countries. The probability of sustainability accounting education being offered at the post‐graduate level (specifically as a PhD programme) is much higher at universities that have a prominent research profile in the area. It is also found that sustainability accounting education is not offered in majority of the cases, at the undergraduate level at universities where prominent sustainability accounting researchers are based. The focus is on post‐graduate and research education rather than on undergraduate and course work education.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation of this study was the limited information available in English on universities' web sites from countries where English is not the primary language. Other technical limitations such as the absence of a search function on the university's web site were also found as a hindrance to data collection.Originality/valueThis paper addresses the existence and scope of sustainability accounting education, the gap between universities' expected comprehensive (including all disciplines) commitment to sustainability and the actual implementation of this commitment. It also addresses the absence of sustainability education involvement by prominent sustainability researchers and academics at the under graduate level.

RESTORAN İŞLETMELERİ WEB SİTELERİNİN İÇERİK ANALİZİ: MARMARİS-BODRUM ÖRNEĞİ

Using the Internet technology efficiently has a direct effect on success of many businesses. Also the businesses in tourism sector that was one of the fast growing sectors in the word must use internet technologies efficiently for managing their marketing activities rightly. Also some purposes like there isn’t possibility to practice tourism product before using and being related to abstract perceptions of people, make internet technologies that can enable to visual practice, more important for tourism businesses. Priority of web sites is to inform people that have potential to use tourism product about this product’s possibilities widely. Restaurant businesses that one part of tourism sector, can promise their products and brands, communicate with their customers via their institutive web sites. The purpose of this study to measure and evaluate the efficiency of web sites of restaurants that facilitate in Marmaris and Bodrum Destinations. The importance of this study is contributions of restaurant web sites efficient usage. In this study Web Sites were designated and criterias that for using to evaluate web sites were determined. Then web sites of these firms were searched and analyzed via content analyses. According to findings, a little part of restaurants use internet technology efficiently. Approximately, all of web sites have visual items about firms and their product, contact information. But, there are some serious problem about usefulness, availability and scope of content. Also links about social networking sites in the restaurant web sites show popularity of using these sites by restaurants.

Readability of Menopause Web Sites: A Cross-Sectional Study

More women are frequently referring to the Internet for health information, yet the readability of information about menopause on the Internet has not been widely studied. To address this gap, this study examined the readability of information about menopause on 25 Internet Web sites. Findings included that information on the Web sites had a reading level higher than the recommended sixth-grade level, and culturally appropriate health information was lacking. Health educators and practitioners are in a pivotal role to help women understand information useful for healthcare decisions. Several criteria are discussed to help practitioners evaluate Web sites.

Does Credibility Count?

Two studies investigated Singaporean junior college students’ determinations of the credibility of social studies Web sites. In the first study, participants selected Web sites that they determined to provide objective and accurate representations of their topics, provided reasons for their selection, and described Web site authors’ vested interests. They also selected Web sites that illustrated misrepresentations, explained why, and described authors’ vested interests. Finally, they rated their own competence and confidence about different aspects of Web site information accuracy. Qualitative analyses of participants’ written comments revealed a strong awareness of political vested interests of Web site authors, a topic that had not emerged in previous research. In the second study, analyses of students’ responses to questionnaires about a more credible and a less credible Web site provided by their instructor indicated that students rated the more credible Web site higher. Students’ ratings of their general confidence in evaluating Web sites on accuracy/truthfulness as well as their confidence in detecting misrepresentations in Web sites were used as criteria in a reduced multiple regression model. Results showed that students generally differed in their perception of the two Web sites. Implications for future research are discussed.

The Impact of Instruction in the WWWDOT Framework on Students’ Disposition and Ability to Evaluate Web Sites as Sources of Information

AbstractMuch research has demonstrated that students are largely uncritical users of Web sites as sources of information. Research-tested frameworks are needed to increase elementary-age students’ awareness of the need and ability to critically evaluate Web sites as sources of information. This study is a randomized field trial of such a framework called WWWDOT. A matched-pair design involving 12 grade 4 and 5 classes was adopted. Data were collected through 3 assessments administered before and after the intervention: a questionnaire, a Single Web Site Evaluation Task, and a Web Site Ranking Task. ANCOVA and ordinal regression analyses reveal that students taught the WWWDOT framework became more aware of the need to evaluate information on the Internet for credibility and were better able to evaluate the trustworthiness of Web sites on multiple dimensions. However, students’ overall judgment and ranking of the relative trustworthiness of Web sites was not improved.

Student evaluation web sites as potential sources of consumer information in the United Arab Emirates

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the attitudes of students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) towards non‐institutionally sanctioned student evaluation web sites, and to consider how educational institutions might respond to the demands of students for specific information.Design/methodology/approachThe study involved a self‐completed questionnaire administered to 118 undergraduate students at a single university in the UAE.FindingsEven though there exists no UAE‐based web site that carries student evaluations of faculty/teaching, 13 per cent of the survey participants had previously visited a site that held student ratings, 85 per cent said they would consider posting on one if it existed in the country, and just over a half of the students were in favour of such web sites being established in the UAE.Research limitations/implicationsDespite limitations, such as the sample size and convenience sampling strategy, it is clear that students appreciate information about course evaluations and that educational institutions should consider how students obtain this information.Practical implicationsThe advent of student evaluation web sites in the UAE could bring a set of challenges and opportunities to educational institutions, but, whether they are established or not, institutions might benefit from developing effective strategies for the dissemination of course evaluation and other student‐related data in the near future.Originality/valueStudent evaluation web sites, such as RateMyProfessors.com, are popular in the USA, Canada and the UK, but it was unknown how students in a relatively conservative country such as the UAE would react to such web sites. Educational institutions can use the findings of this study to develop suitable policies and strategies that address the issues discussed herein.

Evaluating web site service quality in public transport: Evidence from Taiwan High Speed Rail

More and more public transport system passengers plan their trips by using website services. The passengers’ perceived service quality of a website plays a crucial role in recognizing the satisfaction of a transportation service chain. This study aims to investigate the passengers’ perception of electronic service quality (e-SQ) delivery through the Taiwan High Speed Rail’s (THSR) website, by adopting the Rasch measurement model to measure a subjective latent construct: perceived e-SQ. The Rasch model can compare person parameters with item parameters, which are then subjected to a logarithmic transformation along a logit scale to clearly identify which e-SQ measurement items are appreciated by certain passengers. Analytical results show substantial differences between the perceived e-SQ of various personal characteristics such as age, income, and trip types. Empirical results also demonstrate that passengers are most satisfied with the website’s accuracy of information and introduction to the THSR stations’ surrounding area, but are not satisfied with instructions when a transaction fails as well as the carriage layout of the THSR. Our analytical results also identify which service items lead to the perceived e-SQ difference between business trip and leisure trip passengers. The relationship between the two main attribute dimensions – quality of transportation information provided and quality of website services – are also further examined. The empirical results can help a transportation system service operator to better understand how passengers perceive e-SQ and to suggest what should be improved.

Web-based resources for critical care education

To identify, catalog, and critically evaluate Web-based resources for critical care education. A multilevel search strategy was utilized. Literature searches were conducted (from 1996 to September 30, 2010) using OVID-MEDLINE, PubMed, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature with the terms "Web-based learning," "computer-assisted instruction," "e-learning," "critical care," "tutorials," "continuing education," "virtual learning," and "Web-based education." The Web sites of relevant critical care organizations (American College of Chest Physicians, American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Thoracic Society, European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, Society of Critical Care Medicine, World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine, American Association of Critical Care Nurses, and World Federation of Critical Care Nurses) were reviewed for the availability of e-learning resources. Finally, Internet searches and e-mail queries to critical care medicine fellowship program directors and members of national and international acute/critical care listserves were conducted to 1) identify the use of and 2) review and critique Web-based resources for critical care education. To ensure credibility of Web site information, Web sites were reviewed by three independent reviewers on the basis of the criteria of authority, objectivity, authenticity, accuracy, timeliness, relevance, and efficiency in conjunction with suggested formats for evaluating Web sites in the medical literature. Literature searches using OVID-MEDLINE, PubMed, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature resulted in >250 citations. Those pertinent to critical care provide examples of the integration of e-learning techniques, the development of specific resources, reports of the use of types of e-learning, including interactive tutorials, case studies, and simulation, and reports of student or learner satisfaction, among other general reviews of the benefits of utilizing e-learning. Review of the Web sites of relevant critical care organizations revealed the existence of a number of e-learning resources, including online critical care courses, tutorials, podcasts, webcasts, slide sets, and continuing medical education resources, some requiring membership or a fee to access. Respondents to listserve queries (>100) and critical care medicine fellowship director and advanced practice nursing educator e-mail queries (>50) identified the use of a number of tutorials, self-directed learning modules, and video-enhanced programs for critical care education and practice. In all, >135 Web-based education resources exist, including video Web resources for critical care education in a variety of e-learning formats, such as tutorials, self-directed learning modules, interactive case studies, webcasts, podcasts, and video-enhanced programs. As identified by critical care educators and practitioners, e-learning is actively being integrated into critical care medicine and nursing training programs for continuing medical education and competency training purposes. Knowledge of available Web-based educational resources may enhance critical care practitioners' ongoing learning and clinical competence, although this has not been objectively measured to date.