Essay Reliability of Websites Providing Health Information – Nursing Assignment Help

Assignment Task :

Purpose of the assignment: evaluate 2 professional and/or consumer health websites. 

According to recent studies, due to its accessibility and “easiness” patients are using the Internet as the second source of health information after physicians, (HON, 2014).  However, less than one in six 8 -11 year-olds and a third of 12-15 year olds in 2015 are able to correctly identify advertising displayed in online search results (OFCOM, 2015). In light of this, it is important that nurses are able to identify reliable, accurate online sources for health teaching their clients or when referring clients to resources for further information. 

Students are required to choose a specific health related topic and then research it using two (2) websites of their choice. For example, diabetes, asthma or depression could be possible topics to be researched on 2 different websites.

The Health on the Net (HON) Foundation has developed a code of conduct to standardize the reliability of health information.  The HON code defines a set of eight (8) principles to maintain basic ethical standards.

Learning Outcomes:

Information Literacy

1. Examines and compares information from various sources in order to evaluate reliability, validity, accuracy, authority, timeliness, and point of view or bias.
2. Evaluate the validity and reliability of websites providing health information.
3. Explain how knowledge of web validity can enhance patient health and health literacy.