An examination of the quality of late-life depression websites on the Internet (Preprint)

Background

The internet can increase the accessibility of mental health information and improve the mental health literacy of older adults. The quality of mental health information on the internet can be inaccurate or biased, leading to misinformation.

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the quality, usability, and readability of websites providing information concerning depression in later life.

Methods

Websites were identified through a Google search and evaluated by assessing quality (DISCERN), usability (Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool), and readability (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook).

Results

The overall quality of late-life depression websites (N=19) was adequate, and the usability and readability were poor. No significant relationship was found between the quality and readability of the websites.

Conclusions

The websites can be improved by enhancing information quality, usability, and readability related to late-life depression. The use of high-quality websites may improve mental health literacy and shared treatment decision-making for older adults.

Health Literacy Studies Conducted in Australia: A Scoping Review

Health literacy (HL) is an essential component of various literacies mentioned in the field of health and education, including cultural, technological, media and scientific literacies. It is important for motivating higher consumer engagement. We aimed to review previous studies of HL in Australia to inform future studies, extend current knowledge and further enhance HL. Using search strings, a systematic search of four databases (i.e., MEDLINE; Embase; CINAHL and Eric) was carried out. A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) based search strategy led to identification of a total of N = 9696 records, that were further screened for inclusion in the review. The review findings were categorized into three major themes: (1) HL and health numeracy; (2) contrast of: knowledge deficiency, knowledge gained, problems of current health care system and (3) HL measurement methods and its domains. The findings from this scoping review show a dearth of measurement tools with sound psychometric properties for assessing HL. The findings also reveal low levels of HL in consumers which is in turn affecting health-related behaviors, utilization of health services and navigation of the health system. More recent developments have tried to integrate vital aspects, including introduction of applications to increase HL and exploring HL in Aboriginal communities.

The chance of Sweden's public health targets making a difference

BACKGROUND

There is a trend in health policy towards more focus on determinants and societal interventions and less on individuals. The Swedish public health targets are in line with this trend. The value of public health targets lies in their ability to function as a tool in governing with targets. This paper examines the possibility of the Swedish targets functioning as such a tool.

METHOD

Document analyses were performed to examine three prerequisites of governing with targets: (1) the influence of the administration in the target setting process, (2) the explicitness of targets and (3) the follow-up system. The material consisted of the documents from the committee drafting the targets, the written opinions on the drafts, and the governmental bill with the adopted public health targets.

RESULTS

The administration influenced the target setting process. Further, the government invests in a follow-up system that makes indicators on health determinants visible. However, although there existed explicit targets earlier in the process, the final targets in the bill are not explicit enough.

CONCLUSION

The Swedish public health targets are not explicit enough to function in governing with targets. The reasons for this were political rather than technical. This suggests that policy makers focusing health determinants should not put time and resources in technical target formulating. Instead they could make indicators visible, thereby drawing attention to trends that are political by nature.