Consumer Health Information
Popular health information websites (such as the ones noted above) have consumers logging on to acquire health information. Yet, research shows that many of today’s consumers need assistance searching for information as well as understanding and applying it. Lack of technological expertise, low levels of health literacy, and an inability to distinguish relevant facts are just some of the documented challenges.
As you work through this Discussion, keep in mind that health literacy does not merely imply access to information, but also the capacity to process that information to make informed decisions. In this Discussion, be sure to conceptualize nursing’s roles and responsibilities in assisting patients with web-based information.
References:
WebMD. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/
MedlinePlus. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
To prepare: Consumer Health Information
- With the information from the Learning Resources in mind, consider the amount and types of health information available to consumers online.
- Reflect on the patients you have encountered in your practice, and consider their health literacy and use of online information.
- Evaluate strategies you could use to educate and assist your patients to appropriately use health information found on the web.

NURS8210 Week 8 – Consumer Health Information
By Day 3 (Wednesday) post a cohesive response that addresses the following:
- Evaluate the usability challenges that you faced during implementation as well as the factors that caused these challenges.
- Determine whether these challenges were a result of implementation or design.
- Formulate strategies for overcoming these usability challenges.
Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.
Consumer Health Information
By Day 6 respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days in one or more of the following ways:
- Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence, or research.
- Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.
- Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own research in the Walden Library.
- Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.
- Make a suggestion based on additional evidence drawn from readings or after synthesizing multiple postings.
- Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.
Posting requirements per Syllabus “Grading Criteria and Total Components of a Grade”
*Each Discussion requires that you make one initial posting and at least two response postings on two different peer original posts on two different days
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you learned and/or any insights you gained as a result of the comments made by your colleagues.
Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and any additional sources.
In order to ensure full possible points, please carefully review the Discussion Question rubric and use the required template provided below to help guide the formatting of your DQ and minimize risk of missing criteria or subcriteria. Earning full possible points toward “Excellent” means clear demonstration of critical thinking through analyzing the literature, synthesizing the information, and applying to the criteria for the DQ.
ask for Consumer Health Information Discussion help at NURS8210 Week 8 – Consumer Health Information