Introduction
Menopause online is basically a website for patients with menopause who would like to gain a better understanding of their condition and its management. The website, although may be very useful for patients living with the condition, may also be very useful for people without menopause seeking information. The site is predominantly devoted to menopause and the various treatment options available such as HRT and natural remedies, hence it would be fair to say that the contents is non-biased since no particular brand or product is advertised.
Menopause online is clearly for patients. This is firmly stated once you enter the site as there is a welcoming statement indicating the purpose of menopause online. The dialogue is quite easy to understand as the use of scientific vocabulary is minimal. Since this may be difficult at times, the site provides a glossary within the title ‘health resources’ to accommodate for any medical terminology which is used.
The presence of any author’s name was not evident on this site, however it makes reference on the home page that it is “powered by third age” which is the pubslisher of menopause online. However some articles did provide an author while others did not seem to. In these particular cases where an author was given, no contact facilities were provided. On the other hand, the website has a facility which reads “ask Dr. O’Reilly”. This facility allows anybody with a question to post it for a reply from Dr. O’Reilly, who happens to be the founder of Third Age. The website states at the bottom of it’s home page that it subscribes to the ‘HONcode principles’ of the Health On The Net Foundation. The site contains a legal disclaimer which basically states that any information provided should not replace professional medical advice. The disclaimer is present on the home page, however is not very clear. It is also found on the bottom of all articles or information pages, where readers are encouraged to read it. Furthermore the website although predominantly menopause orientated contained links to websites which weren’t relevant to the topic. It also had a link back to the ‘Third Age’ home page.
Authority
The pubslisher’s details were not present on the homepage of ‘menopause online’, however it provided a link back to the homepage of ‘Third Age.’ Again there was no clear details of any publisher or their credentials. The information in the website was written and cited correctly, with the option of a references page at the end of any article or information page.
Objectivity
The target audience is clearly consumers who are living with menopause or about to make a transition in life. The website contained factual information for the consumer as it provides the consumer with information on a vast amount of treatments for menopause and its management. It also provides a free medline search for interested consumers who seek more factual information. Menopause-online does not promote or try to sell any product, hence it would be fair to say it is non-biased.
Current
The site is updated daily and clearly states it. It provides consumers with up to date information or news on a daily basis. Articles on HRT all are post WHI with all relevant facts stated.
Complementarity
The information provided is geared towards consumers and not intended to replace professional advice. The website is rather an initiative to provide consumers with options which are well referenced.
Web Site Aesthetics
The site is easy to use, however at times it is capable of directing a consumer to other information. This is mainly due to its objective of providing options, therefore people using the site would have to selective to some degree. Its use of colour is soft, which is encouraging for consumers. The site gives a good first impression to users and I found was very reliable and quick between pages as well as being easy to navigate. The use of diagrams is very minute, however the font size is appropriate for readers. Furthermore as mentioned earlier the use of non-scientific language adds to its usefulness for consumers.
HRT DRUGS FOR THE PATIENT
Introduction
This website is produced and maintained by the Women’s Health Queensland Wide Incorporated. The Women's Health Queensland Wide is a non-profit health information and education centre, funded by Queensland Health and the Federal Government. The organisation provides balanced information independent of health care provider interests.
Context
The website provides a level of dialogue which is suitable for the patient. The organisation provides lending library resources free of charge to all women across Queensland. The library offers an extensive range of books, journal articles and audiovisual material on women's health topics. The website does not provide material or information for the non-english speaking community. In Australia’s multicultural society language services should be used for health information.
Accuracy
The website has a section called factsheets these provide information on HRT drug treatments and menopause. Each factsheet has references used and the author of the factsheet and the date of review. Although they provide us with the author’s name, no reference is made as to the qualifications of the author. This author may be unqualified to make the factsheet and this is a definite issue of information quality. Additionally no contact details are given for the patient. The website provides links to other related websites, these linked websites are not screened for information quality and do pose a risk to the patient.
Authority
The qualifications and credentials of the publisher are not cited in the website. There is a function which allows you to ask a question online; the Health Information Line is staffed by women's health nurses and midwives. These people do not have the necessary qualifications to answer drug and/or health queries. The patient may be at risk due to inadequate advice or erroneous counseling. The organisation is independent of any institution this may be a problem as there is no governing body to regulate the website content.
Objectivity
The website does not provide alternate pieces of information on a particular drug/treatment, the lack of variety of information will ultimately lead to a subjective one sided viewpoint. The patient is not given the chance to decide which treatment is best suited to them.
Current
The date of production of the website was absent; this poses a health risk to patients as new information is constantly changing therapy and the advice may be out of date. On the bottom of most of the website pages includes a last modified date this is good although some of these dates are nearly 4 years old, clearly the website needs to be reviewed. The length of time elapsed since the page was produced is not mentioned on the website at all. The links vary from out of date to very recent websites. And two links were dead links.
Complementarity
The website provides information directly intended for the Australian women. It uses simple language which the average Australian women can understand. This information is intended to enrich understanding of HRT drugs and side effects.
Web Site Aesthetics
The website is designed appropriately for the average individual with basic computer hardware and skills. Pictures compliment the text. The website is easy to navigate with a search function and a site map. The time taken to upload is reasonable. The website looks very basic and is not eye catching; the colour scheme is less than impressive. The website is interactive with online surveys and online health questions. Overall the website aesthetics can be improved to create a more unique appeal to the women audience.