What is the “Web Mèdica Acreditada” Accreditation Programme?
The Web Mèdica Acreditada (WMA) is a project of the Medical Association of Barcelona. It is a non-profit, independent project which seeks to build trust on line and improve the quality of health information on the Internet through its web consulting service that targets the Spanish-speaking web community.
Why a quality control?
Technology is growing at great speeds incorporating new tools that complement and widen the possibilities of health education for the general public. This global and rapidly evolving technology gives access to health information, facilitates communication between patients, consumers, physicians and other health professionals, and gives access to second medical opinions about an illness creating new forms of interaction between consumers and other health professionals.
This rapidly evolving technology makes it necessary to establish specific criteria and control measures that give the consumer some guarantee that the health web sites they're visiting meet a minimum level of quality standards and that the professionals that offer the information on the web site are made responsible for its contents and activities.
How does the Quality Seal work?
Owners of a health web site voluntarily solicit the Quality Seal (WMA) by completing an application form on line. Once this form is received, the WMA evaluation committee initiates the certification process. The web site is then evaluated based on the WMA Code of Conduct and pertinent recommendations are made so that the web site meets the WMA Code of Conduct standards.
Once a health web site is certified, the WMA seal is conceded to the site and placed on the main (home) page of the site. Upon certification, the professionals responsible for the site commit to continue following the WMA Code of Conduct as well as abide by ethical and scientific standards. The web site owners also make a commitment to keep data obtained from consumers absolutely confidential.
What are the basic criteria applied in the evaluation of a web site in order to obtain the Quality Seal?
The criteria we recommend in order to obtain the WMA Quality Seal are:
- Identification of health professionals responsible for the web site by including his/her name, medical specialization, and usual professional activity.
- The site should have a structure that is easy to understand and use.
- Date of last update because it informs the user of how old or new the information is within the web site,
- Source information of publications and documents offered on the site as well as dates these were elaborated and author of this information.
- If the possibility exists of obtaining medical advice on line, the consumer should always keep in mind that these are second opinions and that these can never substitute an actual medical visit. This information should be included within the site in a prominent place. The web site should also inform consumers of the importance of consulting with their usual physician about all of the information obtained on line.
- Address and contact e-mail should be offered, preferably on the home page. This is to give the consumer the option of requesting information or sending doubts about any issue relating the web site.
- Consumers should be informed about what secure system is being used to manage their data and also status of information.
Is
it possible that a web site that has the WMA Quality Seal not actually be certified?
Once a web site is certified by the WMA evaluation Committee, this web is included in the WMA Index of Accredited Medical Web Sites. The possibility does exist that a web site that has not been certified have the seal, but this web site will not appear in the Index and therefore not actually be certified. The WMA Committee carries out periodic control checks in order to detect irregularities but it is also important that the consumer participate in this effort by sending an email informing the WMA team via the email option (Control e-mailbox) created for this purpose.
What
do I have to do if I own a health web site and want to obtain this Medical Website Quality Seal?
In the case you are a health web site owner and are interested in obtaining the seal, it is important that you read both the Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics and fill out the application form found within the WMA web page. A confirmation message will be sent informing you that the form has been received correctly and this will initiate the certification process in which there will be a constant communication between solicitor and the WMA Committee.
Publication date: 04/25/2005 Last update: 31/08/2006 |