Consumer Health Information Website Analysis

Posted: January 4th, 2023

Consumer Health Information Website Analysis

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

Consumer Health Information Website Analysis

Description of the Issue and its Significance

Heart disease, also called cardiovascular disease, comprises many ailments that tamper with the heart functions. Some of the possible conditions under this category include congenital heart defects, arrhythmias, and coronary artery disease, among others (American Heart Association, 2020). Members of the public should be aware of how heart disease manifests and understand that it is possible to prevent and treat the condition through healthy lifestyle decisions (American Heart Association, 2020). Focusing on heart disease is important because Shaima, Moorthi, and Shaheen (2016) inform that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for more number of fatalities worldwide. Rehan et al. (2016) also acknowledges that CVD have expanded the mortality rates both in developed and developing nations, although a lower rate of death rates have been recorded in developed countries such as Japan, the U.S., the UK, and Australia. In addition, the study focuses on heart disease because acquiring more information about the illness provides an opportunity to help patients suffering from type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Such patients are in significant risk of developing CVD, which calls increased awareness that may help them to avoid further risks (Shaima, Moorthi & Shaheen, 2016).  It is imperative to be conversant with the effects of heart disease and possible ways of addressing the condition because many people live with the disease. In contrast, many others lose their lives every day.  

Description of the Website

The American Heart Association is a website that is designed to provide valuable information regarding heart disease. The website uses a red color to identify its content and appears professional because one can find much information by searching through the online platform. One can tell that the website is professional because its outline allows users to see a lot of information about the subject, and outlines the developers below the webpage.

Sponsor

The American Heart Association, the main sponsor for the website, is a not-for-profit agency in the U.S. that supports cardiovascular medical researches, enlightens people on healthy living, and promotes effective cardiac care in an attempt to lower disability and fatalities caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke (American Heart Association, 2020). The organization allocates adequate funds to manage the website and provides all other material support to ensure that the correct information reaches users in real-time.

Formation and Updates

The website commenced in 2006 after the organization identified the increased need for such information. The agency updates the website each year to ensure that all information is relevant and useful to users. For example, updating the website allows the agency to add new data and remove those that are no longer useful or relevant. Occasional updates ensure that the website remains current and increases its exposure to the target audience.

Target Audience

The American Heart Association targets everyone through the information it posts on its website but mostly seeks to reach out to those who live with heart disease or relate with affected persons in one way or the other. Patients can use the information to improve their condition, and caregivers can learn more about taking care of the affected person. The website also targets researchers and learners who can acquire valuable information about a cardiovascular disease that they can use to facilitate their research and studies.

Credibility

The information is credible because it is published by a team of specialists at the American Heart Association. The organization hires a team of competent practitioners with advanced qualifications in different areas, all of who give their views regarding the published content. The information appears to be credible because users can use the telephone number provided below the website to confirm anything that is not clear. Moreover, users can acquire more insight into what they read on the site by linking to service providers via the group’s social media platforms listed below the website.

Biasness

The website does not appear to be biased in any way. The author does not mention any particular audience and does not seem to pay much attention to one issue while disregarding the other. Instead, the website provides information broadly and focus on as many aspects as possible. For example, the website allocates much space to discuss the various CVD types, including heart attack, stroke, heart failure, arrhythmia, heart disease, and heart valve disease. The website also allocates much time to discuss the possible remedies for the various ailments.

Use of References

The website does not make use of references because it is an organizational site. The professionals behind the content believe that what they provide is accurate and results from intense research and investigation. Critics may argue that referencing is an essential aspect of academic work because it puts it in context, demonstrating the depth and breadth of the research, and appreciates other people’s findings. Thus, the missing references could be a limitation, especially if readers want to conduct more research on the topic.

Accuracy of the Information

The information by the American Heart Association website is accurate, and the chances for inaccuracies and false information are low. The Association works with a panel of experts who understand much about heart diseases and their possible impact on people. Since its establishment in the first quarter of the 20th century, the agency has gained valuable awareness about heart disease. It has gained prominence over the years for its vast experience in the field. The practitioners conduct many campaigns and sensitization programs to educate people about cardiovascular disease and associates with many leading organizations in the health sector. The developers of this information use the experience to come up with accurate data that people can rely on and use to improve their lifestyle.

Links to Additional Resources

The website includes links to additional resources, but those that are prepared by the American Heart Association. For example, the website provides an additional link to heart disease to acquire more information about the disease. The website also offers additional links to other CVD conditions, including heart attack, ischemic stroke, heart failure, bradycardia, and arrhythmia. The links are important because they allow the audience to conduct further research on the subject.

Adequacy

The information the website provides is adequate and may help consumers address or deal with most heart disease issues. Other than the provided information, the links to additional resources give more valuable awareness of the disease’s nature. Readers can rely on what the website offers even though they may want to seek information from other sources to improve their knowledge on the subject.

Sophistication

The website is not sophisticated to use, making it easy for users to access it and retrieve all the relevant information. The developers of the content use titles and subtitle virtually, which guides readers. Besides, the search engine is easy to use because one only has to key in the keywords of what they want, and they would be able to access all the relevant information. Readers can distinguish the various sections of the website with ease and identify the areas that provide information about other subjects without much struggle or any impediment.

Clarity of the Purpose

The purpose of the website is apparent, judging from the title and content. The title “What is Cardiovascular Disease?” helps identify what the website discusses and prepares readers for what to expect. The website’s content that primarily focuses on heart diseases, their possible effects, and remedies further help clarify the website’s purpose.

Reference

American Heart Association. (2020). What is cardiovascular disease? Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease

Rehan, F., Qadeer, Bashir, I., Qadeer, A., & Jamshaid, M. (2016). Risk factors of cardiovascular disease in developing countries. International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, 5(8), 69-72.

Shaima, Moorthi, and Shaheen (2016). Cardiovascular diseases: Traditional and non-traditional risk factors. Journal of Medical & Allied Sciences, 6(2), 46-51.