title: Characteristics of international websites with information on developmental disabilities.
abstract: The Internet often serves as a primary resource for individuals seeking health-related information, and a large and growing number of websites contain information related to developmental disabilities. This paper presents the results of an international evaluation of the characteristics and content of the top 10 ranked results (i.e., not including sponsored results - pay-per-click) returned when one of five terms related to developmental disabilities (i.e., ADHD, autism, down syndrome, learning disability, intellectual disability) was entered into one of six country specific Google online search engines (i.e., Australia (https://www.google.com.au), Canada (https://www.google.ca), Ireland (https://www.google.ie), New Zealand (https://www.google.co.nz), the United Kingdom (https://www.google.co.uk), and the United States (https://www.google.com)) on October 22, 2013. Collectively, we found that international consumers of websites related to developmental disabilities will encounter different websites with differing content and terminology, and should be critical consumers to ensure they locate the information they are seeking.
authors: A.J. Pappanikou Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA. Electronic address: reichow@uchc.edu.
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Reichow
authors: A.J. Pappanikou Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors: Nicholas W
authors: NW
authors: Gelbar
authors: A.J. Pappanikou Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors: Keri
authors: K
authors: Mouradjian
authors: A.J. Pappanikou Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors: Allison
authors: A
authors: Shefcyk
authors: A.J. Pappanikou Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors: Isaac C
authors: IC
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; D001315:Australia; D002170:Canada; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D002658:Developmental Disabilities; D004314:Down Syndrome; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D020407:Internet; D007494:Ireland; D007859:Learning Disabilities; D009520:New Zealand; D057386:Search Engine; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States
keywords: ADHD; Autism; Autism spectrum disorder; Developmental disability; Down syndrome; Google; Intellectual disability; International; Internet; Learning disability; Websites