ZegelGezond: Improving Health Information on the Net
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Abstract
ZegelGezond (direct translation HealthSeal) is an initiative that strives to improve the quality of health information on the net. In the first place ZegelGezond will focus on Dutch websites and public information. ZegelGezond consists of two phases. The first phase is selection, and the second phase is comparison.
First Phase: Selection
The self certification consists of 60 multiple choice questions that have been derived from the criteria that ZegelGezond considers to be the preconditions of valid health information. The questions focus mainly on source indication, health risk warnings, privacy protection and advertising transparency. Some questions are determinative. At the end of the self certification the scores are totaled up and translated into a grade. If this grade is sufficient, the information provider can decide to enter the peer review process. Up to this point ZegelGezond is free, for entering the peer review process a fee is charged which is based on the information scope and the number of pages the website contains.
When an information provider submits its website for peer reviews three ZegelGezond participants are invited to review the candidate website. This peer review process is a unique quality of ZegelGezond, in which participants will help to enforce and protect the ZegelGezond criteria. This way the seal keeps its value. Moreover, the candidates and participants inspire each other. During the pilot study, it appeared that most of the participants highly appreciated this inspiring aspect and subsequently used ZegelGezond as a tool to improve their websites.
After a candidate website passes the peer review proces, the information provider is allowed to publish the ZegelGezond seal of approval on its website. The website then enters the second phase, comparison.
Second Phase: Comparison
In the comparison phase, experts are invited to appraise the website based on its contents, namely the health information that is presented. ZegelGezond distinguishes between two different types of experts. The first group consists of the public experts, which are people who derive their health knowledge from personal experiences. For instance, these people can be patients or relatives of patients. Professional experts, people who’ve derived their health knowledge through schooling and their profession, form the second group. Examples of these people are general practitioners, nurses, and physiotherapists. Both of these groups of experts are invited to appraise websites based on the area of their expertise; diabetes experts appraise websites about diabetes, etc. Experts appraise the website by filling in an online questionnaire about its contents. From their answers, two grades are then derived. One grade is the average appraisal given by public experts, the other is the average appraisal given by professional experts. These grades are represented in the ZegelGezonds’ seal of approval.
ZegelGezond is created in collaboration with the NHG (Dutch Society of General Practitioners), TNO (Dutch research institute) and Innovatiefonds Zorgverzekeraars (Innovation fund of Dutch healthcare insurers), as well as several universities and healthcare institutions. Mediavedi is the creative director and project coordinator.
First Phase: Selection
The self certification consists of 60 multiple choice questions that have been derived from the criteria that ZegelGezond considers to be the preconditions of valid health information. The questions focus mainly on source indication, health risk warnings, privacy protection and advertising transparency. Some questions are determinative. At the end of the self certification the scores are totaled up and translated into a grade. If this grade is sufficient, the information provider can decide to enter the peer review process. Up to this point ZegelGezond is free, for entering the peer review process a fee is charged which is based on the information scope and the number of pages the website contains.
When an information provider submits its website for peer reviews three ZegelGezond participants are invited to review the candidate website. This peer review process is a unique quality of ZegelGezond, in which participants will help to enforce and protect the ZegelGezond criteria. This way the seal keeps its value. Moreover, the candidates and participants inspire each other. During the pilot study, it appeared that most of the participants highly appreciated this inspiring aspect and subsequently used ZegelGezond as a tool to improve their websites.
After a candidate website passes the peer review proces, the information provider is allowed to publish the ZegelGezond seal of approval on its website. The website then enters the second phase, comparison.
Second Phase: Comparison
In the comparison phase, experts are invited to appraise the website based on its contents, namely the health information that is presented. ZegelGezond distinguishes between two different types of experts. The first group consists of the public experts, which are people who derive their health knowledge from personal experiences. For instance, these people can be patients or relatives of patients. Professional experts, people who’ve derived their health knowledge through schooling and their profession, form the second group. Examples of these people are general practitioners, nurses, and physiotherapists. Both of these groups of experts are invited to appraise websites based on the area of their expertise; diabetes experts appraise websites about diabetes, etc. Experts appraise the website by filling in an online questionnaire about its contents. From their answers, two grades are then derived. One grade is the average appraisal given by public experts, the other is the average appraisal given by professional experts. These grades are represented in the ZegelGezonds’ seal of approval.
ZegelGezond is created in collaboration with the NHG (Dutch Society of General Practitioners), TNO (Dutch research institute) and Innovatiefonds Zorgverzekeraars (Innovation fund of Dutch healthcare insurers), as well as several universities and healthcare institutions. Mediavedi is the creative director and project coordinator.
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