Identifying Sources of Electronic Healthcare Information

In this activity you will:

1. Compare results of searching various information sources (* Sources listed in grid below).
2. Offer one example of either a “good” or “ bad and ugly” information related to the topic you choose from each source
listed in the grid-for the first five on the grid.
3. Use criteria from the table below (accuracy, authority, objectivity, currency, coverage, …) to evaluate one finding from
each source.
4. Identify which resources you as a RN should use for professional information and which resources your clients will be
able to use to research their conditions in the last section of the grid
5. Submit the worksheet to the assignment. Download the worksheet and type your responses.

Choose ONE of the following search terms for this activity: Crohn’s Disease, Bone Cancer, Spina Bifida,
Depression, Alzheimer’s Disease, or Coronary Artery Disease

Use the key below to respond to the items of evaluation .

*For Health Source Nursing and Health Source Consumer – you need to locate those sites on your own and evaluate the
information on them. Ex. of a consumer health website is WebMD and can be used for this assignment. Health source
nursing is CDC, Mayo Clinic, etc. Note the source you use at the top of these columns.

*Use the college library to access CINAHL-you need a password to use this resource. It is available through the library.

Definitions:
Accuracy-quality of correctness
Authority-expertise on the subject matter, supply reliable information
Objectivity-impartial, fair information
Currency-less than 5 years old
Coverage-extent of information
KEY: G= good information BU= bad/ugly information RN = recommend nurse uses PT= recommend for patient use

Term you searched: ________________________

Health Source: Google Wikipedia CINAHL Health Source: PubMed Medline Plus
Nursing Consumer
Accuracy
G/BU

Authority
G/BU

Objectivity
G/BU

Currency
G/BU

Coverage
G/BU

Pros
Write 1-2
Sentences here

Cons
Write 1-2
sentences here

Recommend
Resource RN/PT