Physical activity on the Internet: Will typical users find quality information?
Abstract
Background. There is a dearth of research critically evaluating the quality and theoretical content of physical activity information on the Internet. Of the more than 143 million Americans "online", an estimated 70 million persons are searching for health information, and searches for information about physical activity are on the rise. Unfortunately, because health-related websites are not regulated the quality of this information is unknown, potentially leaving consumers at risk and interfering with the efforts of health professionals to promote physical activity. Purpose. This study evaluated popular, easily accessed websites promoting physical activity to determine their: (a) quality; (b) accuracy; and (c) adherence principles of the Extended Parallel Process Model. Method. Using Microsoft Internet Explorer, the investigators accessed four search engines, Google, Yahoo, AskJeeves and MSN and conducted three separate keyword searches: "exercise", "fitness", and "physical activity". The first 3 pages of results were retrieved from these searches, resulting in a total sample of 356 websites. While 315 sites were excluded, a sample of n = 41 remained for analysis. Data Analyses. Three investigators rated the websites according to the: (a) JAMA Benchmarks to assess quality; (b) ACSM and CDC recommendations for physical activity to assess accuracy; and (c) Extended Parallel Process Model variables to assess adherence to theoretical principles of behavior change. Results. Quality and accuracy of online physical activity information was poor, while variables included in the EPPM were well represented. Ratings on the quality scale were weakly associated with accuracy. Disclosure was positively associated and display of email address was negatively associated with accuracy. Educational and network sites were consistently higher in quality and accuracy and government sites were more likely to incorporate the use of fear appeals. Quality websites were more often found by Yahoo and Google, but accuracy did not vary by search engine. Finally, choosing the keyword "exercise" yielded more accurate results, while "physical activity" and "fitness" resulted in more websites employing messages related to the EPPM. Discussion. While it is encouraging that most physical activity websites incorporated theoretical concepts, much work remains to improve the quality and accuracy of online physical activity information.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Black, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Public health|Mass media
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