Developing Better Websites on Clinical Preventive Health Care
Dr. John Feightner, Dr. Yuri Quintana, Dr. Neil Marshall, Nadine Wathen , and Michelle Sangster (University of Western Ontario)
Abstract
The study conducted four focus groups with a total of 34 family physicians and another four focus groups with a total of 39 consumers to identify facilitators and barriers for the dissemination of evidence-based summarizes and recommendations in prevention to family physicians and the public via the World Wide Web. (With physicians preliminary analysis indicated that required information is usually prompted by specific patient issues although evidence is also required to develop standardized preventive actions.) Family physicians want accurate current information which is readily available through a strong indexing system, organized along several dimensions including disease, patient age and gender, patient risk, and strength of recommendation. They prefer a quick text summary with easy links to more detailed information on the same website as well as links to guidelines of other organizations. They also desire "patient ready" material that can be printed and provided directly to their patient or to which they can refer patient's via the internet. Consumers also wanted very basic information with linkage to more detailed information through careful indexing, search capabilities, and alphabetical lists. They also wished to be able to link directly to other websites for similar information. Consumers wanted the supporting evidence and where evidence was equivocal wanted the relevant facts so that they could decide for themselves. They were also interested in hearing about the experiences of other people. Consumers indicated variable trust of information on the internet. They also advocated that such a website should be marketed in such sites as physicians' offices, health care facilities, and through the mass media. Consumers also wanted evidence based information to take to their physician or to formulate specific questions to ask their physician. The data will provide insights into further design of health care websites and will identify appropriate strategies and structures for converting scientific information into accessible, understandable evidence-based information for consumers.
About Dr. John Feightner
Dr. John Feightner is a professor in the department of Family Medicine at University of Western Ontario. He is also the director of the Program Coordination and Development in Elderly Care (a joint appointment with the University of Western Ontario, St. Joseph's Health Centre and Parkwood Hospital). Dr. Feightner is also chair of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.
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