Systematic review of the types of methods and approaches used to assess the effectiveness of healthcare information websites
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Date
2013-09-05
Authors
Tieman, Jennifer
Bradley, Sandra L
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
CSIRO Publishing
Rights
Journal compilation © La Trobe University 2013
Rights Holder
Journal compilation, La Trobe University
Abstract
The objective of this systematic review was to identify types of approaches and methods used to evaluate the effectiveness of healthcare information websites. Simple usage data may not be sufficient to assess if the desired healthcare outcomes were achieved or to determine the relative effectiveness of different web resources on the same health topic. To establish the state of the knowledge base on assessment methods used to determine the effectiveness of healthcare websites, a structured search of the literature was conducted in Ovid Medline resulting in 1,611 articles retrieved, of which 240 met the inclusion criteria for this review. Results of this review found that diverse evaluation methods were used to measure the effectiveness of healthcare websites. These evaluation methods were used during development, prior to release, and after release. Economic assessment was rare and most evaluations looked at content issues such as readability scores. A number of studies did try to assess the usefulness of websites but few studies looked at behaviour change or knowledge transfer following engagement with the designated health website. To assess the effectiveness of the knowledge transfer of healthcare information through the online environment, multiple methods may need to be used to evaluate healthcare websites and may need to be undertaken at all stages of the website development process.
Description
Author version made available in accordance with the publisher's policy
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Citation
Tieman J, Bradley SL. Systematic review of the types of methods and approaches used to assess the effectiveness of healthcare information websites. Australian Journal of Primary Health. 2013;19(4):319-24.