The HONcode Site Evaluation Form - Article Example

Analyzing Medical Websites for Nursing Informatics Introduction Three websites were reviewed for this research paper using the HON Site Evaluation Form as shown necessary for reviewing websites in the proper manner. While the title page shows eight Principles of Review, this Form is used for website evaluation using the eight Principles with extended format form. http://www.hon.ch/cgi-bin/HONcode/Inscription/site_evaluation.pl?language=en&userCategory=individuals. Search One: Mayo Clinic Using the principles of HONcode Site Evaluation Form for websites, the first website reviewed is the Mayo Clinic Online. Principle 1.1 concerns whether it is authoritative and this website provides content, for the most part, without author names. However, in some areas where more specific content is provided and certainly for any research studies, authors and credentials are indicated as well as the date. These are noted at the bottom as references. With principle 1.2 about whether the site offers medical/health information and advice, there is medical information but there is a link at the bottom of the page for Terms and Conditions of Use and it is noted there that if there is a medical emergency, the visitor should “seek appropriate emergency medical assistance.” There are also statements on Privacy, Security of information, a “No Warrantees” statement, a “Limitation of Liability” statement, “User Agreements” statement, a “Discontinuance of Services” statement, a “Copyright and Trademark Information” statement and a “Dispute Resolution” statement. Principle 2 addresses Complementarity/Mission/Assistance and for 2.3, the Terms and Conditions of Use statement applies here as well. There is no particular direct advice to do something or take something. Principle 2.4 shows the mission statement very clearly on the website. Principle 2.5 shows this site supports both the regular public looking for information and also supports the doctor-patient relationship through advanced information and for referrals to the Mayo Clinic for further help. Principle 3.6 shows a clear statement of confidentiality and privacy and how to use the site safely. 3.7 provides all legal requirements concerning medical and personal information and also disclaimer, just in case information is compromised. Principle 4.8 shows modification on each page for last date modified and this is consistent throughout the website. 4.9 shows no real references from other sites unless it is connected to the Mayo Clinic in some way. All information is original. Principle 5.10 shows all claims as part of scientific research or by suitable medical personnel. Principle 6.11 shows a valid email address for the webmaster and also a valid contact form. Principle 7.12 shows where all funding comes from by going to the funding and donation site. Principle 8.13 shows no advertising unless it is connected with the Mayo Clinic. Principle 8.14 shows that this site is not part of a link or a banner exchange and all parts of the website are related. Principle 8.15 does not state anything about open advertising. Search terms by Boolean Terms were the following: Informatics Or Clinics Or Quality Improvement And Informative Theory Or Cancer Or Health And Cancer Or Research Or Nursing Documentation. Search 2: AMIA Principle 1.1 for Authoritative shows all writers are professionals within the medical informatics and are fully qualified to write research papers and to create articles and other publishing. Principle 1.2 shows that all information is given by medical professionals with very suitable degrees and titles. Disclaimers are provided on the Policy page. Principle 2.3 showed that this site is more for medical professionals although the public can access different information here according to what they are looking for. Principle 2.4 shows the mission statement on the “About Us” page and 2.5 shows this site is more for professionals. Principle 3.6 shows a privacy/confidentiality policy regarding all membership information which requires an account to get in, for the most part. Only those who actually create papers and content for the website are actually identified. All others here remain anonymous if they so choose. Full access to the site requires an account to be created. 3.7 shows that all legal requirements are in place for this country and location. Principle 4.8 shows all notations for the last modifications on this site where applicable. All papers and content are attributed and provide dates for any time-sensitive information content provided. Principle 4.9 does not show any references to external sources unless related to the website in some manner. There are links to other parts of the site and most of the site is original, with bibliographic references to sources as needed. Principle 5.10 shows that this is a very reputable site and is viewed as important to the profession of informatics. There are also links to statistics provided in some of the publishing areas. All editions of the Standards Standard, the organization’s publication which is put out twice a year shows Dipak Kalra, MD as the Editor-in-Chief. Principle 6.11 shows the site to be very transparent and there are plenty of links available to all sorts of medical information, including the members of this organization. Nothing is hidden except for those places that would require confidentiality. Principle 7.12 shows the process for obtaining funding as outlined in the Policy Priority section and shows the various agencies involved in funding. Principle 8.13 does not display outside advertising except where connected to the site in some fashion such as conventions. 8.14 shows that this site is not part of a link or banner exchange program. Principle 8.15 does not display advertising other than links to educative programs and other components that are part of items that members can access or purchase. There is very little that is advertising unless it has to do with upcoming conventions, educational programs, and other components of being a member of this site and organization. Boolean search terms used were Informatics Or Organizations Or Nursing Intervention Or Scholarly Journals And Nursing Documentation Or Informatics Or Cancer Or Nursing Information And Medical Research Or Nursing Informatics Or Informatics Publications. Search 3: ANIA Principle 1.1 shows for Authoritative that all members here are professional medical personnel. Information was rather limited without an account so could not evaluate research papers but only web content. Principle 1.2 shows that it provides to medical/health information but to members only. Outsider information is rather limited. Principle 2.3 clearly states that this is a site for nursing professionals only. Principle 2.4 shows that there is a small mission statement under the tab “About Us” and only a statement of benefits for membership to this organization. 2.5 clearly shows that this site is for nurses and medical professionals in the field of Informatics. Principle 3.6 provides privacy and confidentiality on the site and also provides for whistleblower write-in policies as part of the Bylaws tab on the site. The membership is private and requires an account to access the site. This is true for almost all the information here except for advertisements on upcoming events, news and conventions connected to the group. 3.7 includes all legal requirements on the Bylaws page for this site. Principle 4.8 shows last date when updated for those links that require it. 4.9 shows that this site does not contain information from any outside sources. Content is attributed to the organization unless otherwise specified with the content. Principle 5.10 does not show any claims relating to any medical benefit or performance of any specific medical treatment. This is a membership site only and further details on any medical information would require an account. Principle 6.11 shows that this site has listings of members of the board and staff who are easily seen and accessible although they most likely, would only respond to members or to someone wanting to become a member. Principle 7.12 shows this website as operating under Section 501 © (6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Therefore, it is funded by its membership. Any other funding is not evident. Principle 8.13 does not display any advertising from outside resources. 8.14 shows this site is not part of any link and banner exchange program. 8.15 does not indicate an advertising policy and does not show any outside advertising. Advertising or notices are limited to conferences and other events occurring around the United States. There are links to join them on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn however. Boolean terms used in search process were the following: Informatics Or Clinics Or Research Informatics And Cancer Or Nursing Information Or Technology And Nursing Informatics Or Education Informatics. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Review The Cochrane Collaboration is the home page which links to the database of systematic reviews. There are 5,258 published reviews with 2,264 protocols and these change as new or revised papers are added in. The last revision date was on July 8, 2011. In working with the database at the library which requires an account, the searches made were for cancer issues by starting out with clicking on the left side link for cancer. This drops down a list of cancers by different parts of the body and from there, one can click on a choice such as Gynecological. This drops down to more specific cancers of the reproductive system and in this case, cervix was chosen. About 20 papers come up and each of these can be selected for further review on the subject. Each review shows the authors, date of publication, what journal it was published in and the editorial group for review. Other searches can be made within the search box at the top right of the page using Title, Abstract, Keywords and other criteria as needed. This is a great place to also get the latest in research that has been submitted here and there is plenty of information and many different reviews for professionals to use. This would be most useful for any medical student to find at least the preliminary information they need. References, tables, figures and other important information is also available by clicking on tabs with the associated reviews in order to get to more information. References The American Medical Informatics Association. (2012). AMIA Online. The Science of Informatics. Retrieved from http://www.amia.org/about-amia/science-informatics American Nursing Informatics Association.(2012). ANIA Online. About Us. Retrieved from https://www.ania.org/content/about-us Health on the Net Foundation. (2012). HONcode. The HON Code of Conduct for medical and health Web sites (HONcode). Retrieved from http://www.hon.ch/HONcode/Conduct.html Online Journal of Nursing Informatics. (2012). OJNI. Main. Retrieved from http://www.ojni.org/ The Cochrane Collaboration. (2012). CDSR. The Cochrane Collaboration. About Us. Retrieved from http://www.cochrane.org/ The Mayo Clinic. (2012). Mayo Clinic Online. Medical Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/medicalprofs/ Read More