Introduction
Considering the money that one has to spend even on their health, it is often easier to search for relevant information online. However, many websites do not provide information that is accurate and up-to-date. The goal of this paper is to assess the website for the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) according to the five criteria used for consumer website evaluation.
AARDA Website
Autoimmune diseases are a result of the immune system mistaking healthy body cells for foreign entities and killing them over an extended period of time. AARDA is an association dedicated “to the alleviation of suffering and the socioeconomic impact of autoimmunity through education and research” (AARDA, 2020). The organization’s website provides information on many topics related to their area of expertise.
The Evaluation of the AARDA Website
Many online sources outline what needs to be done if one is diagnosed with or suspects a specific disease. However, “making a treatment decision is generally a worrisome and overwhelming time for patients” (Mitchell et al. 2017), mainly due to the misinformation provided by medical webpages. The five criteria used for evaluating consumer websites are accuracy, authority, objectivity, currency, and coverage (CCCOnline Librarian, 2020). In terms of accuracy, articles posted on the AARDA website are written by medical professionals who provide their credentials and contact information. The individuals, who are allowed to post on the webpage, are part of the board of directors or the medical advisors’ team, meaning this online resource checks the authority criterion. On the topic of objectivity, AARDA is an organization, based in the US, that provides help to patients all over the world for free, pursuing the noble goal of keeping people informed. The association posts online articles every day, so regular people are able to find new information whenever they want to, which fulfills the currency criterion. All of the materials are correctly cited, categorized, and have a good balance of text and images, providing thorough coverage of the topic.
Conclusion
There is a lot of misinformation to be found online, particularly on medical websites, where most people hope to not be deceived, which is why an evaluation system for consumer webpages exists. Based on the five criteria of accuracy, authority, objectivity, currency, and coverage, which are used for this assessment, the online resource, maintained by AARDA, is considered trustworthy, as it provides up-to-date information from reliable sources.
References
AARDA. (2020). American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association. Web.
CCCOnline Librarian. (2020). Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages. Web.
Mitchell, S., Gass, J., & Hanna, M. (2017). How well informed do patients feel about their breast cancer surgery options? Findings from a nationwide survey of women after lumpectomy and/or mastectomy. Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 226(2), 134-146.