Evaluating Website Quality for Depression Information
Author Information
Author(s): Kathleen M Griffiths, Helen Christensen
Primary Institution: Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University
Hypothesis
Is the DISCERN tool a valid indicator of evidence-based web content quality for consumers without specific mental health training?
Conclusion
DISCERN has potential as an indicator of content quality when used by both experts and consumers, while Google PageRank also shows promise as a simpler indicator.
Supporting Evidence
- There was a significant association between evidence-based quality ratings and average DISCERN ratings for both consumers and health professionals.
- The correlation between DISCERN scores and user satisfaction was higher than the correlation between Google PageRank and user satisfaction.
- DISCERN may be a valid means for consumers to identify websites of high quality and satisfaction.
Takeaway
This study looked at how well people can judge the quality of websites about depression. It found that a tool called DISCERN can help, and so can a score from Google.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey of depression websites was conducted using ratings from both consumers and health professionals.
Potential Biases
None declared.
Limitations
The study had a small number of consumer participants and was limited to depression websites.
Participant Demographics
Participants included health professionals and consumers with a history of depression.
Statistical Information
P-Value
P = .001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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