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Using the Internet to teach consumers about quality care.
Marilyn H Oermann1, Marsha Lesley, Susan Frances Kuefler
1College of Nursing, Wayne State University, Detroit, USA. moermann@msn.com
The Joint Commission Journal on Quality Improvement
|February 13, 2002
Summary
Consumers can use the Internet to find quality health care information. While many find health websites easy to use, more education is needed on assessing care quality and making informed health decisions.
Area of Science:
- Health Informatics
- Consumer Health Information
- Health Services Research
Background:
- The Internet is a significant source for consumer health information, including details on diagnoses, treatments, and medications.
- While quality care information is available online, consumer utilization of these resources remains low.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the usability and consumer perception of internet-based quality health care resources.
- To understand how consumers interact with online information to assess healthcare quality.
Main Methods:
- A systematic search identified approximately 90 internet documents on quality health care, narrowed to 34 using Health Information Technology Institute (HITI) criteria.
- 32 consumers tested 5 selected internet documents, assessing ease of use and potential for evaluating care quality.
Main Results:
- Most consumers found the tested web sites easy to navigate and use.
- Participants believed these online resources could assist them in assessing the quality of care received from healthcare providers.
Conclusions:
- Internet resources show promise for empowering consumers to assess healthcare quality.
- Ensuring the accuracy and currency of online health information is crucial.
- Consumers need enhanced understanding of health benefits, informed decision-making, and methods for evaluating and engaging with their own healthcare quality.