ERIC Number: EJ916352
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Feb
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0360-7283
EISSN: N/A
A Comprehensive Analysis of the Quality of Online Health-Related Information regarding Schizophrenia
Guada, Joseph; Venable, Victoria
Health & Social Work, v36 n1 p45-53 Feb 2011
Social workers are major mental health providers and, thus, can be key players in guiding consumers and their families to accurate information regarding schizophrenia. The present study, using the WebMedQual scale, is a comprehensive analysis across a one-year period at two different time points of the top for-profit and nonprofit sites that provide information regarding schizophrenia. Results demonstrate that the majority of sites offer comprehensive information and useful features. For-profit sites had higher ratings than nonprofit sites. Likewise, there was somewhat greater inconsistency for nonprofit sites across the two rating periods. The results demonstrate that systematic evaluation of online health information about schizophrenia can contribute to a "gold standard" for Internet health-related information. In addition, the results provide information that social workers can use with consumers and their families to guide them to quality online health information. A brief list of top sites is provided for social workers to give to consumers and families.
Descriptors: Schizophrenia, Internet, Social Work, Information Sources, Health Services, Caseworkers
National Association of Social Workers (NASW). 750 First Street NE Suite 700, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-227-3590; e-mail: press@naswdc.org; Web site: http://www.naswpress.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A