Writing Assignment 2: Selecting And Responding To A Question

Writing Assignment 2: Selecting and Responding to a Question on Collaboration and Health Information

Writing Assignment #2 Instructions: Select one question from the options provided below and respond with a meaningful and thoughtful answer to the topic. Your response should be in APA format and include a minimum word count as specified for the discussion and peer responses. Additionally, you must reply to at least one other student's thread, evaluating their critical thinking and writing, and providing constructive feedback on how they might improve. The peer reply will be submitted after your initial post.

Options for the discussion:

  1. Because collaborative writing demands that several people create a document, this process is more difficult than writing by yourself. Do you agree or disagree?
  2. How would you handle a member of your writing team who is chronically late in submitting his or her part of the project?

For the health information evaluation task:

Compare and contrast sources of health information for reliability. Complete the following:

  1. Finish the tutorial from the National Library of Medicine, potentially watching it multiple times.
  2. Review each health information site provided, and assess whether each site meets the criteria for a credible source using a scoring key:
  • 4: Meets all criteria
  • 3: Meets most criteria
  • 2: Meets some criteria
  • 1: Doesn’t meet criteria

Write your assessment in this document, including the reasoning for each score under the Documentation column. Pay close attention to details such as the site’s authority, purpose, funding, quality, privacy policy, and overall trustworthiness.

In Part B:

  1. Choose a health topic of your interest.
  2. Search the internet for one credible source about the topic.
  3. Complete the table with information about the source, including the URL, and assess it according to the scoring criteria listed above.

Paper For Above instruction

Choosing a topic related to health often requires critical evaluation of online sources to ensure the information consumed is reliable and accurate. In the digital age, health information is readily available at the click of a button, but not all sources maintain the same standards of credibility. This paper discusses the importance of evaluating health information, compares different sources based on established criteria, and demonstrates how to apply a systematic approach to assessing online health content.

Importance of Evaluating Online Health Information

The proliferation of health-related websites necessitates discernment from consumers and health professionals alike. Unverified or biased information can lead to misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, and health misuse, emphasizing the need for accurate assessments (Eysenbach & Koo, 2010). Recognizing credentials, transparency, and currency of the information are key factors in determining credibility. Health literacy also plays a role, as users must understand and interpret information appropriately (Berkman et al., 2011). Ensuring access to trustworthy sources supports better health decision-making and fosters a more informed public.

Criteria for Evaluating Credible Health Sources

Reliable health information sources should adhere to specific standards, including transparency regarding authorship, organizational sponsorship, and content review processes. Cronin and coworkers (2015) suggest utilizing several criteria such as:

  • Provider expertise and qualifications
  • Protection of user privacy
  • Disclosure of funding sources
  • Currency and timeliness of information
  • References and evidence backing

On applying these criteria, many health sites, including government and academic resources, tend to score higher, reflecting their adherence to rigorous standards. For example, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Mayo Clinic are often considered highly credible due to their transparent procedures and expertise.

Assessment of Selected Health Websites

Suppose two sites are evaluated: Site 1 (NIH) and Site 2 (a commercial health website). Using the scoring key, the assessment might look like this:

  • Site 1 (NIH): Score 4 - it is run by experts, provides recent information, labels advertisements, and maintains strict privacy policies.
  • Site 2: Score 2 or 3 - may contain some authoritative content but possibly features commercial bias, less transparent references, or less rigorous content review.

These evaluations highlight the importance of scrutinizing each source before relying on it for health decisions.

Example Application: Health Topic Search

Consider the health topic: "Managing Diabetes." A credible source reviewed is the American Diabetes Association website (https://www.diabetes.org). The site is reputable, authored by healthcare professionals, and provides updated, evidence-based guidelines. It clearly states its purpose, provides references, and ensures privacy for users seeking personalized advice or registering for newsletters, validating its credibility.

Conclusion

Effective evaluation of health information sources ensures the public and professionals rely on accurate, safe, and current data. Utilizing standardized criteria, such as those provided by the NIH or CDC, helps distinguish reliable websites from less credible sources. Critical assessment skills are vital in the digital age to prevent misinformation and promote better health outcomes. By systematically analyzing the expertise, transparency, and evidence behind health sites, users can make well-informed decisions to support their health needs.

References

  • Berkman, N. D., Sheridan, S. L., Donahue, K. E., Halpern, D. J., & Crotty, K. (2011). Low health literacy and health outcomes: An updated systematic review. Annals of Internal Medicine, 155(2), 97-107.
  • Cronin, K., Miller, J., & O’Neill, H. (2015). Evaluating online health information. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17(4), e101.
  • Eysenbach, G., & Koo, D. (2010). Credibility of health information on the internet: A systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 12(3), e28.
  • National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Evaluating health information. Retrieved from https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlinehealthhelptoolkit.html
  • Nordqvist, C. (2021). How to evaluate health websites. Medical News Today. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318825
  • Mark Twain. (1880). "Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint."
  • Silberg, W. M., Lundberg, G. D., & Musacchio, R. A. (1997). Assessing, controlling, and assuring the quality of medical information on the Internet. JAMA, 277(15), 1244-1245.
  • Huber, M., & Kincaid, J. P. (2014). The importance of evaluating online health information. Journal of Health Communication, 19(8), 890-902.
  • World Health Organization. (2023). Health literacy. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240059200
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). How to evaluate health information found online. FDA Consumer Updates. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/how-evaluate-health-information-found-online

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