Websites as tools of promoting health in South East Europe

Abstract

The Internet is revolutionizing the structure and orienta- tion of the healthcare market and drug producers, as well. This new mass media is valuable not only as a source of information for patients and healthcare providers but also as a platform for selling products and services (e-commerce). OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study is create a database of health websites originated from South East Europe (SEE), and determine the quality of information’s regarding the customer needs using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) standard. METHODS: The data- base, named pluspharma™, was constructed by an Internet search and an e-mail questionnaire. The quality of information was measured according to recommenda- tion of WHO (a rating of 1 to 5). RESULTS: The data- base contains about 300 web addresses of useful sources of health and health business information. Of the six countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Yugoslavia, Macedonia, Romania), Romania showed the most (37 public health institutions and 26 public tools promoting health) Web health information sites. The most websites originated from the primary health care institutions, government body or pharmaceutical indus- try. Also, there is the numerous high quality health promotional website designed with specific task groups (example tobacco groups). Direct public communication is evident through about 60% of web sites. Websites of pharmaceutical industry and pharmacies marking with relatively high credit (3.89), compared with other health and service information’s (public and government health institution). The special task groups (usually evidenced as NGO) obtained high credit (4.74) of quality and valuable of Web information’s. CONCLUSIONS: Health-related websites from South East Europe are becoming good tools for health promotion in the SEE region.