Evaluation of information accuracy in health sites: methods for constructing evidence-based indicators
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.19132/1808-5245274.137-188Keywords:
Evidence-based medicine, Internet and access to information, /Criteria, Indicators of accuracy, Health Information, Health Sites.Abstract
The problem of the quality of health information on the Internet has been pointed out in the last two decades. To address this problem, the evaluation of websites by professionals, researchers and institutions has been configured as a new field of research and action. One of the main issues in this field is related to the evaluation criteria. Accuracy is the most commonly used criterion, but we have identified a problem in its definition and application: admitting consensus among specialists as a quality parameter. However, the consensus does not guarantee a current and correct result. In this article, we present and discuss methods guided by evidence-based medicine for the construction of accuracy indicators. The set of methods developed comprises seven steps: search strategy, selection of evidence-based information sources, collection and selection of topics, development of the first version of indicators, and analysis of groups, topics and indicators. Our methods ensure the development of indicators according to the best and current scientific evidence. They solve the problem of the accuracy criterion for the field of evaluation of information quality on health sites and propose a new definition. The results of this study fill gaps in the knowledge of the field and guide future research and actions because they are replicable for any health subject.Downloads
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