Quality assessment of health information on the Internet

Lynch syndrome case

Authors

  • André Pereira Neto Fundação Oswaldo Cruz
  • Zulmira Maria de Araújo Hartz Fundação Oswaldo Cruz

Keywords:

Evaluation Study. Internet Use. Information Technologies and Communication.

Abstract

We live under the aegis of the “new information and communication technologies” (NICT): An unprecedented and pervasive reality that presents us with different virtues and problems, one of them related to the quality of information available online, especially in the health area. This article presents a methodological proposal for assessing the quality of information available on health websites. Initially, the results of some studies are exposed, indicating that official and public interest websites addressing different health problems may offer outdated, incomplete, incorrect and illegible information, although they have no intention of causing harm to users. Finally, we will use this methodology to evaluate the information offered in a case study of a specific site, aiming to improve the quality of information about Lynch Syndrome, available in this virtual environment.

Author Biographies

André Pereira Neto, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz

Professor permanente do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Informação e Comunicação em Saúde – PPGICS Instituto de Comunicação e Informação Científica e Tecnológica em Saúde - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz)

Zulmira Maria de Araújo Hartz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz

Pesquisadora Titular da ENSP/Fiocruz (aposentada) 1 A pesquisa que serviu de base para a realização deste artigo contou com o apoio do “Instituto de Ciências Humanas e Sociais” (InSHS) do “Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa” (CNRS) da França como parte do programa de mobilidade internacional oferecido por esta instituição em 2022.

Published

2023-06-01

Issue

Section

Artigos Inéditos