Quality Evaluation of Consumer Health Information Websites Found on Google Using DISCERN, CRAAP, and HONcode.

Authors :: Portillo, Ivan A.
Johnson, Catherine V.
Johnson, Scott Y.
Source :: Medical Reference Services Quarterly. Oct-Dec 2021, Vol. 40 Issue 4, p396-407. 12p.
Publication Year :: 2021
Abstract: Online health misinformation is a growing problem, and health information professionals and consumers would benefit from an evaluation of health websites for reliability and trustworthiness. Terms from the Google COVID-19 Search Trends dataset were searched on Google to determine the most frequently appearing consumer health information websites. The quality of the resulting top five websites was evaluated. The top five websites that appeared most frequently were WebMD, Mayo Clinic, Healthline, MedlinePlus, and Medical News Today, respectively. All websites, except Medline Plus, received HONcode certification. Based on DISCERN and CRAAP scores, MedlinePlus was found to be the most reliable health website. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subjects :: *WORLD Wide Web standards
*RELIABILITY (Personality trait)
*DATA quality
*MEDICINE information services
*READABILITY (Literary style)
*COVID-19
*BIBLIOGRAPHIC databases
*INTERNET
*HEALTH information services
*SEARCH engines
*HEALTH
*INFORMATION resources
*QUALITY control
*ACCESS to information
*PATIENT education
*CERTIFICATION
*WORLD Wide Web
*TRUST
RESEARCH evaluation

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