Important Source Of Health Information Research Articles

The quality of routine data for measuring facility-based maternal mortality in public and private health facilities in Kampala City, Uganda

BackgroundRoutine health facility data are an important source of health information in resource-limited settings. Regular quality assessments are necessary to improve the reliability of routine data for different purposes, including estimating facility-based maternal mortality. This study aimed to assess the quality of routine data on deliveries, livebirths and maternal deaths in Kampala City, Uganda.MethodsWe reviewed routine health facility data from the district health information system (DHIS2) for 2016 to 2021. This time period included an upgrade of DHIS2, resulting in two datasets (2016–2019 and 2020–2021) that were managed separately. We analysed data for all facilities that reported at least one delivery in any of the six years, and for a subset of facilities designated to provide emergency obstetric care (EmOC). We adapted the World Health Organization data quality review framework to assess completeness and internal consistency of the three data elements, using 2019 and 2021 as reference years. Primary data were collected to verify reporting accuracy in four purposively selected EmOC facilities. Data were disaggregated by facility level and ownership.ResultsWe included 255 facilities from 2016 to 2019 and 247 from 2020 to 2021; of which 30% were EmOC facilities. The overall completeness of data for deliveries and livebirths ranged between 53% and 55%, while it was < 2% for maternal deaths (98% of monthly values were zero). Among EmOC facilities, completeness was higher for deliveries and livebirths at 80%; and was < 6% for maternal deaths. For the whole sample, the prevalence of outliers for all three data elements was < 2%. Inconsistencies over time were mostly observed for maternal deaths, with the highest difference of 96% occurring in 2021.ConclusionsRoutine data from childbirth facilities in Kampala were generally suboptimal, but the quality was better in EmOC facilities. Given likely underreporting of maternal deaths, further efforts to verify and count all facility-related maternal deaths are essential to accurately estimate facility-based maternal mortality. Data reliability could be enhanced by improving reporting practices in EmOC facilities and streamlining reporting processes in private-for-profit facilities. Further qualitative studies should identify critical points where data are compromised, and data quality assessments should consider service delivery standards.

Natural childbirth and cesarean section - descriptive analysis of queries in Google search engine.

The use of internet-based search engines for health information is very popular and common. The Internet has become an important source of health information and has a considerable impact on patient's decision making process. Knowledge of pregnant women about childbirth comes from health professionals and personal experiences described by friends or family members. There is a growing interest in digital sources used by pregnant women. Analysis of queries related to regarding to natural childbirth and cesarean section in the Google search engine. In this infodemiology, descriptive study tool "AlsoAsked" was used. This is a tool for analyzing data appearing in Google search results. "AlsoAsked" search was conducted on April 19, 2023. Search phrases "natural childbirth" and "cesarean section" in polish language were used. Questions that were typed into the Google search engine, ranked according to popularity (volume) and thematic connections have been discussed. The most frequently asked questions were related to the course and duration of labor as well as the preparation for labor and cesarean section (CS). Comparison between a natural labour and CS in the context of safety and pain received a great deal of attention. The most popular questions regarding CS were related to elective CS and indications for it. Some questions concerned the connection between labor and clinical state of a newborn.

Health Literacy in Pediatric Consultations on Allergy Prevention.

The first 3 years of life offer an opportunity to prevent allergic diseases. Pediatricians are an important source of health information for parents. However, a certain degree of health literacy is necessary to understand, appraise, and apply preventive behavior, which can be supported by health literacy (HL) sensitive consultations and a HL friendly environment. In this study, we want to shed light on how pediatricians in outpatient care in Germany advise on early childhood allergy prevention (ECAP) and how they consider parental HL. We conducted 19 semi-standardized telephone interviews with pediatricians from North-Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, pseudonymized, and subjected to content analysis. Current ECAP recommendations were well known among our sample. Despite the shift of evidence from avoidance of allergens toward early exposure, providing advice on ECAP was considered non-controversial and it was widely assumed that recommendations were easy to understand and apply for parents. However, ECAP was treated as an implicit topic resonating among others like infant nutrition and hygiene. Regarding HL, our interview partners were not aware of HL as a concept. However, they deemed it necessary to somehow assess parental information level and ability to understand provided information. Formal HL screening was not applied, but implicit strategies based on intuition and experience. Concerning effective HL-sensitive communication techniques, interviewees named the adaptation of language and visual support of explanations. More advanced techniques like Teach Back were considered too time-consuming. Medical assistants were considered important in providing an HL-sensitive environment. Time constraints and the high amount of information were considered major barriers regarding HL-sensitive ECAP counseling. It seems warranted to enhance professional education and training for pediatricians in HL and HL-sensitive communication, to reach all parents with HL-sensitive ECAP counseling. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2024;8(2):e47-e61.].

Health Information Quality of Online Newspaper Articles in Korea.

The Web is an important source of health information, but the quality of such online information is highly variable. This study evaluates the quality of health articles published on Naver News, Korea's most popular portal, using the Health Information Quality Assessment Tool (HIQUAL). We collected 712 health-related articles published on Naver News from May 1 to 7, 2023. After applying exclusion criteria, we selected 116 articles for analysis. Two clinicians independently assessed the quality of these articles using the HIQUAL, which scores articles based on five domains: "reliability," "usefulness," "understandability," "sufficiency," and "transparency." Overall article quality was generally considered recommendable (mean±standard deviation: 7.52±2.00). "Usefulness," one item of "reliability," and "understandability" were the three items with the highest levels of satisfaction. "Sufficiency" criteria for costs, risks, and benefits received low scores. Quality scores for articles focused on health risk factors and intervention showed a statistically significant difference. While the overall quality of health information in Korean online newspaper articles is acceptable, room for improvement remains in some areas, particularly with regard to the fair presentation of costs, risks, and benefits. The study highlights the need for ongoing quality improvement and evaluation initiatives for online health information.

The Heterogeneous Influences of Online Health Information Seeking on Aspirin Use for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

BackgroundThe internet has become an important source of health information for the general population. Previous research has shown that online health information seeking is associated with medication adherence. However, the direction of this relationship is still a matter of dispute. Even less is known about the factors that moderate such a relationship. ObjectiveTo investigate the heterogeneous influences of online health information seeking on the use of aspirin in CVD prevention and the possible moderating factors among the applicable adult population in the U.S from 2016 to 2018. MethodsRespondents aged 40 or older, based on guidelines for aspirin use, were sampled from the 2016 to 2018 National Health Interview Survey. Linear probability models were used to test the association between patients’ aspirin use behaviors and the variables of interest in four separate sub-populations. ResultsAspirin use for CVD prevention was associated with online health information seeking in different ways. When patients received doctors’ advice to use aspirin, online information seeking has a negative influence on aspirin use, depending on whether the individual has CVD risk factors. However, for patients without recommendations from providers, the effects of online information seeking on self-initiated aspirin use depend on the different types of prevention (i.e., primary vs. secondary) and CVD risk factors. ConclusionsOnline health information might lead to both overuse and underuse of aspirin in CVD prevention. Online information seeking interacts with other information sources affecting consumers' decision making. Key consumer characteristics and risk factors may also moderate such a relationship.

The Awareness, Perceptions and Attitudes towards health warnings on cigarette packages in Northern Cyprus: a community-based descriptive study

Background: Health warnings displayed on tobacco products are important sources of health information for the community. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the awareness, perceptions and attitudes towards the impact of health warnings on cigarette packages of a community in Nicosia, where no previous data was available. Methods: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 629 cafe attendants in Nicosia in October 2019, using a structured questionnaire to determine the impact of pictorial and text-only cigarette pack warnings. Since cigarette packs include only text-only warnings in Northern Cyprus, sample pictorial warnings from Turkey were presented to the participants.The data were analysed by IBM–SPSS-18.0 to compare perceptions regarding sex, age, smoking status with significance level accepted as p&lt;0.05. Results: Of all the participants, 48%were smokers and smokers among men were significantly higher (56.8%) than women (40.6%). The results demonstrated that 71.2% of the participants were aware of the health warnings on packages and 59.4% rated health warnings as effective. Stronger pictorial health warnings were deemed as more effective. However, 65.6% of the “smoker” group were not aware of the warnings.There were significant differences between smokers and non-smokers regarding perceptions of pictorial warnings. Non-smokers, including former smokers adopted positive views more; 54% of ex-smokers declared health warnings had contributed to their quitting process. Conclusion: The perceptions of the non-smokers of this community group displayed more positive attitudes towards health warnings. This study has pointed to the urgent need for the implementation of pictorial warnings for smokers in Northern Cyprus.

Information on health promotion and prevention on the websites of Baden-Württemberg's public health services-afirst approach

Health promotion and prevention are core tasks of German public health services (Öffentlicher Gesundheitsdienst). Health communication is, among other things, central to their effectiveness. As the Internet has become an important source of health information and public health services are increasingly in the public eye, their websites are gaining more focus. We therefore investigated how public health services present topics on health promotion and prevention of non-communicable diseases (HPP-NCDs) on their websites. The websites of the 38public health service departments in Baden-Wuerttemberg were examined using qualitative content analysis from June to October 2022. The presentation of the HPP-NCDs topic on the websites as well as the relevant measures were documented. For each measure/activity the addressed target group, the topic, and the type of intervention was collected. The HPP-NCDs topic is addressed on all websites (n = 38); however, the presentation style is heterogeneous. Atotal of 243 HPP-NCDs measures/activities were identified across the 38websites. There was abroad spectrum of topics, target groups, and types of intervention used in the measures/activities presented. The study shows an extensive but heterogeneous presentation of HPP-NCDs on the websites of public health services. In doing so, they are caught between the requirements of public relations and health information. The use of synergy effects through the joint promotion of nationally relevant informational materials and measures could be beneficial for public health services.

Stigmatisation or Destigmatisation?

Mental health has emerged as an international priority to secure health, well-being and human development. Media are important sources of health information, and this gives media a powerful voice in contributing to the creation, perpetuation, evolution and/or attenuation of stigma towards mental illness. Through employing stigmatisation as the theoretical framework and qualitative content analysis as the research method, this study examined the coverage of mental health problems during the Covid-19 pandemic by Malaysian legacy and online newspapers. Six dimensions of stigma (concealability, origin, course, disruptiveness, aesthetics and peril) were examined and it was found that individual level of origin and peril were the most prominent dimensions of stigma found in the reporting. In addition, the newspapers focused on promoting mental health awareness and literacy in their destigmatisation effort, while reflecting either a positive or neutral valence in their coverage. The implications of the findings were discussed with regard to the role of media in reporting mental health problems and destigmatisation of mental illness.

A Global Social Media Analysis of the Accuracy and Specific Characteristics of Information Shared about Family Planning and Contraception

Background: Social media platforms have become important sources of health information. An assessment of the use-generated contents to reduce misinformation has becoming an imperative responsibility of health professionals. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the shared information related to family planning, and contraception, and other characteristics on four major social media sites based on WHO guidelines. Study design: A web-based content analysis using a cross-sectional study design. Methods: We have evaluated the information on four popular social media, including Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. Information was evaluated as "accurate" if it was consistent with the standard guidelines. Results: Out of 486 posts, 77.4% were evaluated as "accurate". Information characteristics, including being shared on Facebook (OR = 27.7, 95% CI: 7.41–104.14) and YouTube (OR = 15.9, 95% CI: 2.7-93.2), being shared by public accounts (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1–2.7), and for educational purposes (OR = 4.2, 95% CI: 2.6–6.5), were significantly associated with the content's accuracy. A significant proportion of inaccurate information was shared by health professionals. Discussion and Conclusion: There are notable proportions of misinformation, and some were shared by healthcare providers. The findings highlighted the importance of consistent evaluation and monitoring of the information shared on social media based on the latest evidence. Healthcare providers should leverage the advantages of social media to disseminate up-to-date, evidence-based contraceptive information to their patients, meanwhile helping them to correct myths and misinformation on family planning

Googling long-acting reversible contraception: A scoping review examining the information available online about intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants.

The internet is an important source of health information, however, the quality of information about long-acting reversible contraception (LARC, including intrauterine devices (IUDs) and contraceptive implants) found online is largely unknown. A scoping review of webpages returned in a Google search was conducted. The first three pages of results were included if they were written in English and contained information about LARC. Results were critically reviewed and assessed using the DISCERN quality of health information tool. Of 778 results, 306 pages met the eligibility criteria. While most webpages provided key information about LARC, including location in the body, benefits, side effects and risks, the information provided varied considerably. Only half mentioned efficacy and many webpages did not provide information about the cost of insertion and removal, how and where to access the devices or how they work. Despite side effects being mentioned in more than three-quarters of webpages, the depth and specificity of these varied considerably and were often contradictory across different webpages. Most webpages provided medically accurate information to consumers; however, many did not include key information such as cost or how they work. Descriptions of side effects varied between webpages, and this may inhibit informed decision-making. SO WHAT?: Most people make decisions about what contraceptive method they might like to use before visiting a health care provider, and most will get this information from the internet. Providing comprehensive, medically accurate and consistent information about both IUDs and contraceptive implants is vital to support informed decision-making.

“It’s important to manage our stress”: Mental health advice in the Australian print news media during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened existing concerns about mental health and illness in Australia. The news media is an important source of health information, but there has been little research into how advice about mental health is communicated to the public via the news media. In this study, we examined how advice about building and maintaining mental health was discursively constructed in the news media during the COVID-19 pandemic. A discourse analytic approach informed by critical discursive psychology was employed to analyse 436 articles published in daily newspapers in Australia between 1 January and 31 December 2020, which contained references to mental health and the COVID-19 pandemic. Three main interpretative repertoires were identified – negative emotions are a risk to mental health and must be managed; risky emotions should be managed by being controlled (based around a ‘border control’ metaphor); and risky emotions should be managed by being released (based around a ‘pressure cooker’ metaphor). This study demonstrates that, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, advice constructed negative emotions as risky and problematic; and normalized the habitual management of emotions by individuals through strategies of control and release. Potential implications of such discourses for goals of improving population mental health are discussed.

Public Librarian Perceptions of Assisting Immigrant Patrons: Results from a Multi-State Survey.

Public libraries in the United States (U.S.) are important sources of health information. Immigrants comprise a large portion of the U.S. population, and research suggests that public libraries help immigrants adjust to life in a new country. Public libraries help immigrants access information directly related to health and provide programs that have indirect impacts on health outcomes, including learning a new language and forging social ties. The purpose of this paper was to examine perspectives from librarians related to interactions with immigrant patrons and how their library supports them in this role. Public librarians (n = 205) from two selected U.S. states completed an online survey focusing on how comfortable they were in helping immigrants with inquiries related to health and the role of the public library in supporting librarians in this endeavor. Respondents generally reported high levels of comfort interacting with immigrants, although there was limited interaction on potentially sensitive topics (i.e., immigration, health). Library staff perceived that libraries overall were not effective in meeting the needs of immigrant populations and that librarians were infrequently offered professional training related to cultural competency and diversity. The findings echo previous studies that demonstrate the need for professional development to ensure that librarians are aware of library resources available to assist immigrant patrons. Findings from this study suggest opportunities for public health professionals and public librarians to collaborate to ensure the provision of reliable resources, health information, and referrals to community-based services.

Development and validation of a quality assessment tool to assess online nutrition information.

The internet is an important source of health information but is unregulated. Little research has focused on the assessment of digital information related to nutrition. To develop and validate a novel online quality assessment tool (OQAT) for quality assessment of online nutrition information. The OQAT was developed and validated in six distinct stages. After reviewing the literature, a framework and criteria were developed and formalised. Next, the quality assessment criteria were piloted on a subset of data and criteria refined. The established criteria were then validated against a previously validated assessment tool, and reliability was tested. Finally, the validated OQAT was used to assess the quality of articles from a 24-h collection period, 19 April 2021. The final OQAT consisted of 10 key questions. Twenty-six news articles were assessed independently by two raters. Comparison of scores found moderate internal consistency (α = 0.382). Cohen's Kappa coefficient demonstrated high interrater agreement (k = 0.653, p < 0.001). The OQAT was tested on 291 relevant Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), which were determined to be either poor 3% (n = 9), satisfactory 49% (n = 144), or high-quality 48% (n = 139) articles. There was a statistically significant difference in OQAT scores between blogs, news articles, and press releases, χ2(2) = 23.22, p < 0.001, with a mean rank OQAT score of 138.2 for blogs, 216.6 for news articles, and 188.7 for press releases. This novel tool provides a reliable and objective method for assessing the quality of nutrition content online. It could potentially be used by researchers to assess the quality of online information in different settings and by organisations to inform readers of the quality of information being accessed.

The Ambivalent Role of Social Aspects in Health Promotion

Through various mechanisms such as social comparison, social control, and social support, social networks may impose both positive and negative effects on people’s health. The purpose of this brief research report is to highlight the role of social aspects in health promotion in the context of evidence-based communication strategies to promote physical activity among older adults in Germany. Results are based on a two-study formative research project, combining 20 semi-structured interviews with a telephone survey of a representative sample of 1,001 older adults. They show that interpersonal communication is an important source of health information. However, a strong normative influence of the social network may also undermine self-determined motivation to be physically active and therefore decrease activity levels in the long-term. In contrast, feeling related to others and being able to exercise together with other people can facilitate physical activity for older adults, which underlines the ambivalent role of social aspects. Hence, (interpersonal) communication aiming at the promotion of physical activity among older adults should support their perceived autonomy by explaining potential health and social consequences of the behaviour, providing choices, and acknowledging individual barriers and facilitators such as (lack of) sports companions.

Credibility, Accuracy, and Comprehensiveness of Readily Available Internet-Based Information on Treatment and Management of Peripheral Artery Disease and Intermittent Claudication: Review.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects millions of people worldwide, and a core component of management of the condition is self-management. The internet is an important source of health information for many people. However, the content of websites regarding treatment recommendations for PAD has not been fully evaluated. This study aimed to assess the credibility, accuracy, and comprehensiveness of websites found via a common search engine, by comparing the content to current guidelines for treatment and management of PAD and intermittent claudication (IC). A review of websites from hospitals, universities, governments, consumer organizations, and professional associations in the United States and the United Kingdom was conducted. Website recommendations for the treatment of PAD and IC were coded in accordance with the guidelines of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the American Heart Association (AHA). Primary outcomes were website credibility (4-item Journal of the American Medical Association benchmark), website accuracy (in terms of the percentage of accurate recommendations), and comprehensiveness of website recommendations (in terms of the percentage of guideline recommendations that were appropriately covered). Secondary outcomes were readability (Flesch-Kincaid grade level) and website quality (Health On the Net Foundation's code of conduct). After screening, 62 websites were included in this analysis. Only 45% (28/62) of websites met the credibility requirement by stating they were updated after the NICE guidelines were published. Declaration of authorship and funding and the presence of reference lists were less commonly reported. Regarding accuracy, 81% (556/685) of website recommendations were deemed accurate on following NICE's and the AHA's recommendations. Comprehensiveness was low, with an average of 40% (25/62) of guideline treatment recommendations being appropriately covered by websites. In most cases, readability scores revealed that the websites were too complex for web-based consumer health information. Web-based information from reputable sources about the treatment and management of PAD and IC are generally accurate but have low comprehensiveness, credibility, and readability.

Quality and content evaluation of websites with information about immune checkpoint inhibitors: An environmental scan.

BackgroundTrustworthy educational information for patients is critical for increasing their knowledge base and preparing them for shared decision making with clinicians. As the internet has become an important source of health information for many patients, the purpose of this study was to assess the quality and content of websites with educational content about immune checkpoint inhibitors.MethodsWe performed an environmental scan of the currently available websites providing educational information for patients about immune checkpoint inhibitors. We used three search engines: Google, Bing, and Yahoo! (9/20/2021). Two independent investigators selected relevant uniform resource locators (URLs), appraised the quality of the websites, and collected their characteristics. We evaluated the accuracy, completeness, technical elements, design and aesthetics, readability, usability, and accessibility of the websites. The user experience was also evaluated.ResultsWe identified 37 websites for analysis. In 10 websites (27%), it was not possible to know the source of the information provided. Thirty-three (89%) provided a definition with a simple explanation of cancer and treatment and 30 (81%) on complications of immune checkpoint inhibitors; only seven (19%) provided information about the balance between risks and benefits. Thirty-five (95%) provided a statement of purpose. Regarding the design, all 37 (100%) had appropriate visual aspects, typography, and grammar. Thirty-six (97%) were well organized. For most of the websites (n = 35, 95%) the content was easy to find. Only two websites had a readability score of 6, while the others had higher scores. Regarding the user experience, the overall quality of websites was rated as excellent in 16 (43%), good in 14 (38%), and fair in 7 (19%).ConclusionsOur findings reveal that websites with information about immune checkpoint inhibitors mostly have general information about cancer, the treatments, and adverse events. Few websites provide information about the balance between harms and benefits of treatment, costs, the source of the information, or the hierarchy of evidence. These findings identify the gap in the quality and content of websites for patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and can help website creators and developers.

Verbal and Visual Framing of Responsibility for Type 1 Diabetes by Patient Influencers on Instagram

Visuals remain understudied in health-related framing research. On Instagram, users who have been patients of long-term health conditions, such as type 1 diabetes (T1D), and who regularly share their experiences with a wider audience, that is, patient influencers, have become an increasingly important source of health information. Both their verbal and visual portrayal of health issues and how they frame causal and treatment responsibility for them matters for the public perception of health and illness. We aimed at determining how patient influencers verbally and visually portray T1D on Instagram, thus incorporating verbal and visual frame analysis by conducting a multimethod study. Combining insights from a qualitative image sorting study ( N = 168 images) and a quantitative content analysis of N = 280 posts by German patient influencers on Instagram, we show that these influencers frequently share how they feel about their illness and verbally emphasize individual treatment responsibilities. Visually, they mostly share images of their diabetes devices, such as insulin pumps. Overall, the visuals used on Instagram tend to enhance the verbal responsibility frames in the captions, with one specific visual frame attributing individual treatment responsibility.

Evaluation of the quality, reliability and content of YouTube™ videos related to the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.

The production, use, and sharing of information in health-related fields are increasing at an exponential rate in this age. Because they are so common today, social media platforms have a big impact on people's opinions, habits, and decisions. With this study, we aimed at testing the content, reliability, and quality of the videos about CCHF disease published on YouTube™ for patients and healthcare professionals, which people use for obtaining information. The data of this study were obtained by searching on YouTube™ on January 1, 2022, using the keywords "Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever". Google Trends was used to identify the most common search terms for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. Video reliability was evaluated by using the DISCERN tool and Global Quality Scale (GQS) was performed to evaluate video quality. After the exclusion criteria, 75 videos were reviewed. Videos for healthcare professionals were more sufficient than videos for patients (p=0.004). DISCERN and GQS scores were higher in sufficient videos than in partially sufficient/insufficient videos (p=0.000 and p=0.000, respectively). As YouTube is an important source of health information about CCHF, there is a need to increase the number of high-quality and reliable content for patients on YouTube™.

The Quality of Internet Websites for People Experiencing Psychosis: Pilot Expert Assessment.

BackgroundClinicians need to be able to assess the quality of the available information to aid clinical decision-making. The internet has become an important source of health information for consumers and their families.ObjectiveThis study aimed to rate the quality of websites with psychosis-related information (to provide clinicians with a basis for recommending material to guide clinical decision-making with consumers and their families), using a validated instrument as well as a purpose-developed checklist, and consider improvement in quality over a 4-year period.MethodsTwo measures of website quality were used: the DISCERN scale and the Psychosis Website Quality Checklist (PWQC). Terms related to psychosis, including “psychotic,” “psychosis,” “schizophrenia,” “delusion,” and “hallucination,” were entered into Google, and the first 25 results were analyzed. In total, 6 raters with varying health professional backgrounds were used to evaluate the websites across two time points: January-March 2014 and January-March 2018.ResultsOf the 25 websites rated, only the 6 highest ranked websites achieved a DISCERN score, indicating that they were of “good” quality (51-62 out of a possible 75), while the mean score of the websites (mean 43.96, SD 12.08) indicated an overall “fair” quality. The PWQC revealed that websites scored highly on “availability and usability” (mean 16.82, SD 3.96) but poorly on “credibility” (mean 20.99, SD 6.68), “currency” (mean 5.16, SD 2.62), and “breadth and accuracy” (mean 77.87, SD 23.20). Most sites lacked information about early intervention, recreational drug use and suicide risk, with little change in content over time. Stating an editorial or review process on the website (found in 56% of websites) was significantly associated with a higher quality score on both scales (the DISCERN scale, P=.002; the PWQC, P=.006).ConclusionsThe information on the internet available for clinicians to recommend to people affected by psychosis tended to be of “fair” quality. While higher-quality websites exist, it is generally not easy way to assess this on face value. Evidence of an editorial or review process was one indicator of website quality. While sites generally provided basic clinical information, most lacked material addressing weighing up risks and benefits of medication and alternatives, the role of coercive treatment and other more contentious issues. Insufficient emphasis is placed on detailed information on early intervention and importance of lifestyle modifications or how families and friends can contribute. These are likely to be the very answers that consumers and carers are seeking and this gap contributes to unmet needs among this group. We suggest that clinicians should be aware of what is available and where there are gaps.

The Attitudes of Egyptian Web-Based Health Information Seekers Toward Health Information Provided Through the Internet: Qualitative Study.

BackgroundThe internet has become an established source of health information for many Egyptian internet users. Understanding users’ attitudes toward the benefits and limitations of web-based health information will explain the influence of this information on users’ health-related behavior and decisions.ObjectiveThis qualitative study aims to understand the attitude of Egyptian internet users toward internet health information and to explore the impact of obtained health information on users’ behavior and on their physician-patient relationship.MethodsFor this qualitative study, semistructured interviews were conducted with a total of 49 participants (41/49, 84% Egyptian internet users and 8/49, 16% physicians) who participated in focus groups or individual interviews. We used a thematic analysis approach to explain and demonstrate participants’ views, thoughts, and experiences in using web-based health information.ResultsThe internet has become an important source of health information in comparison with other health information sources and is the central theme that has emerged across the thematic analysis. The attitude toward the use of internet health was classified into three main themes: feeling toward web-based health information (with subthemes: favoring, disliking, neutral, or having ambivalence feelings), motivators to seek internet health information, and behavioral changes using internet health information (subthemes: confidence, satisfaction, and improved knowledge). Themes that emerged from physicians’ interviews included the accessibility of the internet health information, good communication, and coordination of care between patients and their physicians, and the active engagement of patients with their management plan.ConclusionsThe internet has become an essential source of health information for Egyptian adults. Internet health information can improve the patient-physician relationship, especially when users discuss the obtained health information with their physician. Internet health information provided seekers with social support and self-confidence when making health decisions.