AsianScientist (Feb. 16, 2012) – University of Melbourne researchers have found Wikipedia is the most highly-rated website for accessing information on mental-health related topics.
Led by Dr. Nicola Reavley, a research fellow from Orygen Youth Health at the University of Melbourne, the team extracted content about mental health from 14 frequently accessed websites, including Wikipedia, Encyclopedia Britannica, and a psychiatry textbook.
The content was rated by experts according to: accuracy, how current the information is, breadth of coverage, referencing, and readability. Ratings varied significantly between resources according to topic.
The researchers assessed a range of on-line and print material on mental health-related topics and found that in the majority of cases, Wikipedia was the most highly-rated in most domains.
In terms of quality of information on depression and schizophrenia, Wikipedia was generally as good as, or even better than that provided by centrally controlled websites or psychiatry textbooks.
“We know that people seeking information about mental disorders want real-time answers and assistance with accessing help. The Internet is instant and Wikipedia is often the first stop for people looking for definitions, explanations and information about suggested treatments,” said Dr. Reavley.
“The Internet provides extensive information about mental disorders that is accessed by consumers and carers. For some people in need, it is the first stop to the next stage of enquiring about services.”
While there have been controversies about the accuracy of Wikipedia in the past and people are not always sure about trusting it, this study suggests that people can trust it to a reasonable extent, said Dr. Reavley.
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Source: University of Melbourne.
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