Table 7 Internet health information: characteristics, consequences of information quality and suggested criteria for an "official" health information website

Characteristics of internet information

• Rapidly evolving and uncontrolled growth of information

• Transcends international borders

• Is not owned and cannot be controlled by any individual, organisation or country

• Inability to restrict consumer access

• Quality of information is varied and cannot be guarantied

• High cost of constructing and maintaining a comprehensive and user friendly government health information website

• Potentially lower cost of information dissemination in comparison with traditional media

• Timeliness, in that information can be updated, inserted or deleted quickly

Poor quality information may result in:

• Non compliance with treatment recommendations of healthcare professionals that may incur additional costs of wasted healthcare resources and harm to consumers

• Inappropriate / over/ under treatment any of which could lead to additional cost and/ or harm

• Possible misinformation through lack of quality assurance

Quality information should result in:

• Improved understanding

• Improved compliance

• Reduced waste

Criteria for a country wide "official" health information website:

• Should provide:

   • Up to date information on treatment options and prevention for common illnesses

   • Links to useful and reputable websites irrespective of website owner

   • Guidelines for evaluating information quality

   • Contact for support groups

• Should not:

   • Be all embracing and contain too much information

   • Contain jargon and unfamiliar language

   • Be biased towards a particular provider or funding agency