Arthur Dubowicz|Peter Schulz
Medical Information on the Internet: A Tool for Measuring Consumer Perception of Quality Aspects
Harvard University|Università della Svizzera italiana|Università della Svizzera italiana
adult internet users searched health information internet internet become one important sources health information treatment advice cases information found verified medical doctor judged onlinediagnosers independently facing situation public health authorities raise concern quality medical information laypersons find internetthe objective study aimed developing measure evaluate credibility websites offer medical advice information measure tested quasiexperimental study two sleepingdisorder websites different qualitythere 45 survey items rating credibility websites tested quasiexperimental study random assignment 454 participants either high lowquality website exposure using principal component analysis original items reduced 13 sorted factors trustworthiness textual deficits content interferences external links web site advertisements first two factors focus provided content two describe embedding content website 45 survey items designed previously using exploratory observations literature researchthe final scale showed adequate power reliability factors loadings principal component analysis ranged satisfactorily 644 854 significant differences p001 found low highquality groups advertisements website rated disturbing experimental conditions meaning differentiate good bad informationthe scale reliably distinguished high lowquality medical advice given websites