Quality of Eating Disorders Websites: What Adolescents and Their Families Need to Know

OBJECTIVE:  The purpose of this study was to examine the accessibility and content quality of eating disorder websites. METHODS:  A descriptive, exploratory study using four search engines and seven search terms was conducted to identify and evaluate the accuracy of eating disorder information avail...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing 2011-02, Vol.24 (1), p.33-37
Main Authors: Smith, Adrian T, Kelly-Weeder, Susan, Engel, Jennifer, McGowan, Katelyn A., Anderson, Bonnie, Wolfe, Barbara E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Access to Information
Adolescent
Adolescent Health Services
Anorexia nervosa
binge eating disorder
bulimia nervosa
Consumer Health Information - standards
Consumer Health Information - statistics & numerical data
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Eating disorders
EDNOS
Family - psychology
Feeding and Eating Disorders - therapy
Humans
Internet - standards
Nursing
Search Engine
Teenagers
web-based health information
Websites
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Summary:OBJECTIVE:  The purpose of this study was to examine the accessibility and content quality of eating disorder websites. METHODS:  A descriptive, exploratory study using four search engines and seven search terms was conducted to identify and evaluate the accuracy of eating disorder information available on consumer oriented websites. FINDINGS:  One hundred fifteen (82.1%) websites were accessed. Few sites fully described the DSM diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa (13.2%), bulimia nervosa (15.8%), eating disorder not otherwise specified (6.9%), and binge eating disorder (8%), as well as associated treatment options. CONCLUSIONS:  Results suggest that eating disorder websites do not adequately address diagnostic criteria or treatment options.
ISSN:1073-6077
1744-6171
DOI:10.1111/j.1744-6171.2010.00265.x