Consumer Health Information Web Sites: the State of the Art A snapshot analysis of Consumer Health web sites Andrea M. Ketchum, MLIS, AHIP University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Library System May 24, 2004

Background Preparation for update and redesign of HSLS Consumer Health Information web site. Literature search found no previous analyses Survey performed to –Identify prevalent format and content of existing sites –Brainstorm –Clarify goals for redesign

Methods Survey of 33 Consumer Health web sites Google search –University AND “Consumer Health Information” –33 web sites selected from first 10 pages Academic centers Public libraries Hospital libraries 16 US states and Canada represented Snapshot date: November 6, 2002 Web sites analyzed for –Structure –Content

33 Consumer Health Information Web Sites Aetna, InteliHealth: Harvard Medical School's Consumer Health Information Arizona Health Sciences Library, Consumer Health - MultFind Results Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library, Columbia University, Consumer Medicine Charlottesville (VA) Community Web, Consumer Health Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System, Consumer Health Cooper Health System, Medical Library ooperhealth&flag=geturl ooperhealth&flag=geturl Crozer-Keystone Health System, Crozer-Keystone Virtual Library

Dartmouth Biomedical Libraries, Consumer Health Resources Duke University Medical Center Library, Consumer/Patient Health Information Emory Health Sciences Center Library, Emory MedWeb Subject Index for Consumer Health Exempla Lutheran Medical Center, Consumer Health Libraries Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library/ New Haven Free Public Library, Consumer Health Information Network Indiana University School of Law, Consumer Information Indiana University School of Medicine, Consumer Health Lane Medical Library, Stanford University Medical Center, Consumer Health Loyola University, Consumer Health

McGill University, Selected Consumer Health Resources McMaster University Health Sciences Library, Health Care Information Resources National Network of Libraries of Medicine, New England Region, Consumer Health Information Northern Virginia Community College Libraries, Consumer Health Resources partnership: U of Cincinnati, OSU, Case Western Reserve, NetWellness Consumer Health Information Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library of Emory University, Consumer Health Resources University of California Davis Health Sciences Libraries, Consumer Health Resources University of Iowa, Virtual Hospital Information for Patients - Iowa Health Book University of Iowa, Hardin Meta Directory of Internet Health Sources

University of Maryland Health Sciences and Human Services Library, Consumer Health Links University of Maryland Libraries, Consumer Health University of Toronto, Patient and Consumers omepage.asp omepage.asp University of Wisconsin-Madison Health Sciences Libraries, Consumer Health and Medical Information Utah Library Association, Utah Consumer Health Information Network VCU Libraries, Virginia Commonwealth University, Consumer Health Resources Washington Hospital Healthcare System, Washington Community Health Resource Library Yale University Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library, Consumer Health Resources

Structure Fields (33 sites surveyed) Columns33 Site Search22 Index = Links21 Organized by Resource Type20 Scroll One Page19 Site Index in Border15 Organized by Subject13 Site Map/Guide6 Tables 4 Navigation Tabs 2 Structure and Content Analysis

Content Fields (33 sites surveyed) List of Links32Ask a Librarian6 Contact Information26Today’s Date5 Last Update18Quality Tips4 Disclaimer16Non-English Language3 Medical News12Search Tips2 Alternative Medicine12Ask the Doc2 Demographic Groups10Commercial Affiliation2 Guides 9Referral Service2 Privacy Statement7Interactive Tools 1

Most Common Features Top 5 Structure Features Columns Site search Index = Links ( internal or external) Organized by resource type Scrolling one page Top 5 Content Features List of links Contact information Last update notice Disclaimer Medical News

Most Common Structure Site Search

Most Common Structure Index = Links

Most Common Structure Organized by Resource Type

Most Common Structure Scroll one page

Most Common Content Lists of Links

Most Common Content Contact Information

Most Common Content Last Update

Most Common Content Disclaimer

Most Common Content Medical News

Least Common Features Bottom 5 Structure Features Site Index Border Organized by Subject Site map/guide Tables Navigation Tabs Bottom 5 Content Features Search tips Ask the Doc Commercial ads Referral service Interactive tools

Least Common Structure Site Index Border

Least Common Structure Organized by Subject

Least Common Structure Site Map/Guide

Least Common Structure Tables

Least Common Structure Navigation Tabs

Least Common Content: Search Tips

Least Common Content Ask the Doc

Least Common Content Commercial Ads

Least Common Content Referral Services

Least Common Content Interactive Tools

Columbia University Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library EXAMPLE: Most Common Structure Index=Links Site Search Organized by Resource Type Scroll one page Contact Info Last Update Content = List of Links Columnar

Organized by subject Site Index Border Ask a doc EXAMPLE: Least Typical Structure and Content Interactive Tools Advertisments

Summary Most common design was a 1-page, columnar scrolling list of external and internal links organized by resource type, with site search, contact information, last update notice, and disclaimer. Simple maintenance suspected. Least common design included interactive tools, referral services, search tips, advertisements, navigation tabs and a site map in a more complex layout, organized by subject: a commercial look. Time-consuming maintenance suspected. Medical News and Alternative Medicine were the most frequent specialized topics.

Most Surprising Find 61% organized by Resource Type –Directories, Web sites, etc. Only 39% organized by Subject

Lessons Learned A survey of current web sites provides inspiration as well as a menu of possible design and content features. Borrow the visual interest and navigational flexibility from web sites with a more commercial design (Intelihealth) and combine with the simplicity of academic library sites. Add interest with photos and other illustrations. Provide access to as much content as possible from the front page. –Build site map into front page, through layered subject outline. –Border menus, navigation tabs add interest and search flexibility External news sources address current medical concerns and should be available for reference online. Keep text simple, clear, and avoid adjacent columns of text to enhance accessibility and assure compatibility with screen readers.

Putting it all together: HSLS Consumer Health Information