The quality of English-language websites offering falls-prevention advice to older members of the public and their families

Falls among older people are a major public health issue. Increasing numbers of older people are accessing the internet for health-related information, including information on falls risk and prevention. However, we are aware of no study that has assessed the quality of such websites. Using techniques for conducting systematic literature reviews, we evaluated English-language websites offering falls-related advice to members of the public. Forty-two websites were identified using popular search engines; these were assessed using evidence-based guidelines and codes of conduct on coverage of falls-related information, credibility and senior friendliness. Overall, scores were poor for coverage of falls information and credibility, although they were higher for senior friendliness. Few of the websites had been recently updated and none provided individually-tailored advice. We conclude that websites have fallen short of their potential to provide accessible, evidence-based information on the risks of falls and their prevention.

[1]  Christian Köhler,et al.  How do consumers search for and appraise health information on the world wide web? Qualitative study using focus groups, usability tests, and in-depth interviews , 2002, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[2]  M. C. Ashe,et al.  International comparison of cost of falls in older adults living in the community: a systematic review , 2010, Osteoporosis International.

[3]  Finbarr C. Martin,et al.  Falls Risk Factors: Assessment and Management To Prevent Falls and Fractures* , 2011, Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement.

[4]  P. Scuffham,et al.  Incidence and costs of unintentional falls in older people in the United Kingdom , 2003, Journal of epidemiology and community health.

[5]  Amanda L. Graham,et al.  A Review of Web-Assisted Tobacco Interventions (WATIs) , 2008, Journal of medical Internet research.

[6]  Nadine E Foster,et al.  Back Pain Online: A Cross-Sectional Survey of the Quality of Web-Based Information on Low Back Pain , 2003, Spine.

[7]  Jennifer L. Pomeranz,et al.  The Delivery of Public Health Interventions via the Internet: Actualizing Their Potential , 2011 .

[8]  D. Oliver.  Preventing falls and falls-injuries in hospitals and long-term care facilities , 2007 .

[9]  L. Yardley,et al.  Older people's views of advice about falls prevention: a qualitative study. , 2005, Health education research.

[10]  P. Impicciatore,et al.  Reliability of health information for the public on the world wide web: systematic survey of advice on managing fever in children at home , 1997, BMJ.

[11]  S. Louis Bridges,et al.  National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases , 2000 .

[12]  H. Christensen,et al.  Quality of web based information on treatment of depression: cross sectional survey , 2000, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[13]  Laurence Alpay,et al.  The Dutch Website 'SeniorGezond' : an illustration of a road map for the informed patient , 2007 .

[14]  Laurence Alpay,et al.  Easing Internet access of health information for elderly users , 2004, Health Informatics J..

[15]  M J Buxton,et al.  Evaluating patient-based outcome measures for use in clinical trials. , 1998, Health technology assessment.

[16]  R. J. Cline,et al.  Consumer health information seeking on the Internet: the state of the art. , 2001, Health education research.

[17]  L. Yardley,et al.  Web-site-based tailored advice to promote strength and balance training: an experimental evaluation. , 2009, Journal of aging and physical activity.

[18]  E. van Rossum,et al.  Prevalence and correlates of fear of falling, and associated avoidance of activity in the general population of community-living older people. , 2007, Age and ageing.

[19]  C. Guse,et al.  An office-based Internet patient education system: a pilot study. , 1999, The Journal of family practice.

[20]  L. Rubenstein.  Falls in older people: epidemiology, risk factors and strategies for prevention. , 2006, Age and ageing.

[21]  J. Powell,et al.  Empirical studies assessing the quality of health information for consumers on the world wide web: a systematic review. , 2002, JAMA.

[22]  M. Mills,et al.  Usability of Health Web Sites for Older Adults: A Preliminary Study , 2004, Computers, informatics, nursing : CIN.

[23]  M. Oermann,et al.  Evaluation by Consumers of Quality Care Information on the Internet , 2001 .

[24]  G D Lundberg,et al.  Assessing, controlling, and assuring the quality of medical information on the Internet: Caveant lector et viewor--Let the reader and viewer beware. , 1997, JAMA.

[25]  Lucy Yardley,et al.  Understanding reactions to an internet-delivered health-care intervention: accommodating user preferences for information provision , 2010, BMC Medical Informatics Decis. Mak..

[26]  Sarah E Lamb,et al.  Interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community. , 2012, The Cochrane database of systematic reviews.

[27]  Chris Todd,et al.  What are the main risk factors for falls amongst older people and what are the most effective interventions to prevent these falls? How should interventions to prevent falls be implemented? , 2004 .

[28]  R. Kravitz,et al.  Health information on the Internet: accessibility, quality, and readability in English and Spanish. , 2001, JAMA.

[29]  B. Scott,et al.  Extent, Accuracy, and Credibility of Breastfeeding Information on the Internet , 2005, Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association.

[30]  S. D. de Rooij,et al.  Fear of falling: measurement strategy, prevalence, risk factors and consequences among older persons. , 2008, Age and ageing.

[31]  Chief Medical Officer.,et al.  Start active, stay active: a report on physical activity from the four home countries' Chief Medical Officers , 2013 .

[32]  P. Coventry,et al.  Prediction of appropriate timing of palliative care for older adults with non-malignant life-threatening disease: a systematic review. , 2005, Age and ageing.

[33]  Alex Gray,et al.  Personalizing web information for patients: linking patient medical data with the web via a patient personal knowledge base , 2006, Health Informatics J..

[34]  Pierre Pluye,et al.  Shortcomings of health information on the Internet. , 2003, Health promotion international.

[35]  Lucy Yardley,et al.  Usability and acceptability of a website that provides tailored advice on falls prevention activities for older people , 2009, Health Informatics J..

[36]  Amanda Spink,et al.  From E-Sex to E-Commerce: Web Search Changes , 2002, Computer.

[37]  N. Foster,et al.  A Cross-Sectional Survey of the Quality of Web-Based Information on Low Back Pain , 2003 .