A qualitative study of Canadian Aboriginal women's beliefs about "credible" cancer information on the internet.
BACKGROUND
Criteria for evaluating the quality of cancer information on the Internet include source credibility and accuracy and currency of content. Cultural relevance of cancer resources is often overlooked in assessments of quality of Internet Web sites.


METHODS
Interviews with senior Aboriginal women (n = 25) were conducted in Ontario Canada to determine their beliefs about "high quality" and "credible" cancer prevention resources.


RESULTS
Participants did not regard online cancer information from the medical community to be completely credible. They recommended that cancer resources include contact information for traditional healers in addition to local cancer agencies.


CONCLUSIONS
Cultural appropriateness of cancer information should be assessed. Web resources considered credible according to published criteria may not be as relevant for Aboriginal populations.
Hoffman-Goetz
Laurie
L
Department of Health Studies and Gerontology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. lhgoetz@healthy.uwaterloo.ca
Friedman
Daniela B
DB
D000368:Aged; D044467:American Indian or Alaska Native; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D020407:Internet; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms; D009864:Ontario; D014505:Urban Population