Notions of reliability: considering the importance of difference in guiding patients to health care Web sites

Abstract

Objectives: This article analyzes the efforts of three organizations to provide a standard that guides Internet users to reliable health care sites.

Methods: Comparison of health Internet sites, interviews and document studies.

Results: In comparing these approaches, three different constructions of reliability are identified.

Conclusions: The resulting possibilities and restrictions of these constructions for users that are searching for health information on the Internet are revealed.