Developing an instrument to evaluate the quality of dementia information website

With website becoming a major information source, consumers are likely to resort on website for information about dementia. They maynot have the knowledge or experience in distinguishing quality information from opinion pieces; therefore, the aim of this research Master project is to develop and validate an instrument to measure the quality of dementia information website. The aim was achieved by reaching four objectives: (1) identify the existing methods for evaluating dementia information website. (2) identify the existing methods for evaluating health information website. (3) develop an instrument to measure the quality of dementia website. (4) use this developed instrument to evaluate the 15 common dementia websites. Each objective was answered by one to two research questions. The literature review was conducted to identify existing methods to evaluate dementia and health information website. Based on the analysis of the previous methods and approaches to evaluate dementia and health information website, it was decided that the questionnaire survey is the optimal method for assessing the quality of dementia website for the public. Then the researcher obtained the representative criteria from the general health information evaluation tools, and specific criteria from dementia website evaluation tools as the candidate items to develop a dementia-specific instrument.