MayoClinic.com Tops Credibility Ratings

Thursday, December 12, 2002

MayoClinic.com was identified as consumers' number one-ranked health site, in a recent Web site credibility research study. Experts echoed these high marks by ranking MayoClinic.com number two of the 10 health information sites analyzed.

Consumer WebWatch teamed up with Stanford University's Technology Lab and Sliced Bread Design, LLC to conduct a two-part study to investigate and compare how consumers and experts determine credibility of health-related Web sites. Researchers stated this project is the largest study to date on the credibility of Web sites.

The research team discovered that experts focus on sources and credentials, whereas consumers mainly judge a site based upon its attractiveness and ease-of-use.

"We are pleased that this study reinforces the reason MayoClinic.com exists — to be a trustworthy source of useful information that can improve people's lives," says MayoClinic.com Medical Editor Brooks Edwards, M.D. "We hope that the findings of the study will help consumers more easily discern between sites with trustworthy heath information and sites that may not be credible."

Experts ranked the MayoClinic.com site (http://www.mayoclinic.com) highly because of its reputation, one commenting that it is "credible due to its affiliation with the highly regarded Mayo Clinic." Some consumers in the study also commented on reputation and credentials: "Mayo Clinic has a great reputation; I would trust the information I found at this Web site." In the experts' study, MayoClinic.com was second only to a site produced by the National Institutes of Health (http://www.nih.gov).

The study results indicated the best sources of health information are reputable, nonprofit sources with no agenda or bias other than the distribution of information. It encouraged Web surfers to carefully evaluate the source of information on Web sites, including authors, credentials and the date information was posted.

To view the study in its entirety, please visit: http://www.consumerwebwatch.org.
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e-mail: newsbureau@mayo.edu

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