Name of Web site:  

URL:  

1. The decisions you make based on information from this site may have an effect on your health, or your family's.  Do you think information on the Internet can mislead you?

   NO   YES

   Please explain:

   
   

2. Do you have any reservations or questions about evaluating the quality of this site? 

   NO   YES

   If yes, what are they? 

    
   

3. Sometimes an innocent error, misunderstanding, or a faulty self-diagnosis can lead to unnecessary treatment or an unwise delay in proper treatment.  Please describe the worst that might happen or has happened to you or your family as a consequence of following bad information offered on a health Web site?

   
   

4. Is there a commercial or "sales" pitch coming from group members or sponsors of the site? Do you think that the commercial aspects of this Web site influence the ideas that are presented?

   Select an answer from below: - I believe the sponsor's "sales pitch" influences information on this site - There is a "sales pitch" but I don't believe it influences this site - I don't care if there is a "sales pitch" or how it affects the site - There does not appear to be a "sales pitch" pushed by this site
   

5. Do you recall who the owner or sponsor was of this site?
   
   Select an answer from below: - A major medical institution - A single clinic - A government source - An academic institution - An advocacy group - A non-profit group - A commercial venture - I do not recall - The identity of the site sponsor is not available
   
   
6. If you answered I don't recall or the identity is not disclosed, you may want to find out to decide if this information comes from a reliable source or unknown organization.  Do you trust the sponsor? If offered, would you use the non-Internet services of this institution?
   

YES    NO   NOT SURE


7. It is important to know if appropriate health professionals were involved in putting the site together. You need to judge whether those involved are suitable to give advice. Are the credentials and affiliations of people who developed this site appropriate?
   

Select an answer from below: - The developers' credentials are appropriate - The developers' credentials are not appropriate - I am not sure of the developers' credentials - The developers' credentials are not available

8. Some sites may provide more detailed and focused information than others. What type of information is typically offered on this site?
   
   Select an answer from below: - Sound advice by people who've shared similar experiences - Advice and viewpoints of one author - Links to reliable sources - Information recommended by a credible institution. - Promotions of untested ideas
   
   
9. If you obtained advice from this site, was it helpful or did you have to search for more information? 

   Select an answer from below: - The advice provided was helpful - The advice was somewhat helpful - The advice was not helpful and I searched for more information - I did not obtain advice from this site

10. Often advice provided on a Web site is based on reliable and peer-reviewed journals, authorities, or the developer's personal experiences. What would you trust more, advice and material that is based on multiple sources or from a single author?
    




11. If the site is interactive, and you're asked to provide information in order to get answers to medical questions, what proof do you have that your information will be kept private?
    

Select an answer from below: - They promise to keep it private - The institution disclosed its policy on Internet privacy - I'm not aware of any policy - Personal information is not requested


12. Do the answers you receive seem tailored to your personal needs and questions?

    YES    NO     SITE IS NOT INTERACTIVE
    

13. Information, even the most accurate common sense information, changes constantly. A site that is not updated regularly will soon be giving you poor advice. How up-to-date is the site?

    Select an answer from below: - The date of site changes are noted on each page - The site is updated somewhat regularly - Information about the site's currency isn't disclosed
    

14. Are you interested in finding people to talk to on this Web site?

    Select an answer from below: - Yes, I'd like to join in on the site's open discussion - Yes, I'd like to talk with people like myself - No, I am not interested in participating in a discussion group.

    (If no, skip to question 20)
    

15. Sometimes people who visit the site may not share your experiences and their advice may not be of value to you. One way bad ideas get sorted out in a group discussion is by the active participation of people with different experiences and backgrounds. Do you think that when ideas get expressed in this site, the group allows for different views and actively discusses all ideas?

    Select an answer from below: - Yes, there are different ideas expressed and discussed - Ideas are expressed, but not actively discussed - No, it seems only one line of thought is discussed and not others
    

16. Is this a disease-oriented discussion group?

    YES    NO
    

17. Is the discussion moderated by a doctor, a nurse or other qualified clinicians?

    Select an answer below: - Yes - It is moderated, but not by a qualified clinician - I am unsure if it is moderated but would like to know - The discussion group is not moderated
    

18. You can get a sense of how much support people receive at this site by examining how they treat each other. Do they go out of their way to understand and accommodate each other?

    YES    NO

19. Does having support available to you matter?

    Select an answer below: - Yes, I only am interested in sites that offer some form of support - Yes, it is important but I also visit sites that don't offer me support - No, it doesn't matter whether or not a site offers its' members support.

    
    This is the bottom-line test!

    Were you able to find the topics you needed?
    Was the information provided easy to understand?
    Would you trust the advice offered on this site?
    

20. Did the information provided on this Web site help answer your questions?

    Select an answer below: - Yes, I did get answers to my questions - The information helped me to form new questions - The information may have helped, but I didn't understand it - No, I could not use the information and my visit was a waste of my time.