Quality of health information: a study of human papillomavirus (HPV) on Brazilian websites

• Main Author: Garcia, Renata Ivone
• Publication Date: 2018
• Other Authors: Matias, Márcio, Bastos, Lia Caetano, Bastos, Rogério Cid, Santos Koehler, Fernanda dos
• Format: Article
• Language: por
• Source: RECIIS (Online)
• Download full: https://www.reciis.icict.fiocruz.br/index.php/reciis/article/view/1361
• topic: health information to consumer; papillomaviridae; evaluation of health websites; quality of information; health internet.; información sobre salud al consumidor; papillomaviridae; evaluación de sitios web sobre salud; calidad de la información; salud en internet.; informação sobre saúde ao consumidor; papillomaviridae; avaliação de websites sobre saúde; qualidade da informação; saúde na internet.

The internet has become for the population a common source of search for information about issues related to health, including the human papillomavirus (HPV). This article presents an evaluation of the quality of the information about the HPV available on health websites and a ranking based on its results. 61 indicators were used to do the evaluation, divided into content, usability and readability criteria. In regard to content, the websites under evaluation presented information about diagnostic exams, prevention, treatment and the pathologies that can be developed. All those websites have a main menu and a pleasant layout. The indicators of readability, for the most part, were satisfied, since the websites showed attractive use of colors, size and format of fonts. It can be observed a significant level of quality of information about HPV available on the websites evaluated.