Proceed with Caution: A Report on the Quality of Health Information on the Internet

Publication Date: May 2001

Publisher: California HealthCare Foundation

Author(s): RAND Health

Research Area: Education

Type: Report

Abstract:

In 2001, nearly 100 million Americans went online in search of health-related information and more than 70 percent said online health information had influenced a decision about their treatment. At that time, little was known about whether the information on the Web was sufficiently complete and accurate to support consumer decision-making. In response to these concerns, in 2001 RAND Health conducted a comprehensive study to describe and evaluate health information available on the Internet. The study was the first to evaluate both English- and Spanish-language search engines and Web sites. The Report Summary includes highlights of the study's methods, key findings, and recommendations for consumers, health Web sites, providers, policymakers, and consumer advocacy groups. A more detailed description and additional data can be found in the Complete Study. The Chart Pack contains overview graphics of the study. In addition, an article based on this study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).