Week 5 Discussion: Evaluating Online Health Information
Week 5 Discussion | CI1000: Computer Basics for Healthcare Professionals | 60 Points
Aligns with CO-5 (Research, Information Literacy & Advanced Word)
A patient at Sunnydale Clinic tells the medical assistant: "I read online that I should stop taking my blood pressure medication because a blogger said it causes more harm than good." The blog had no author credentials, no citations, was published five years ago, and had ads for herbal supplements throughout the page.
Use the CRAAP test and research skills from this week to help evaluate and respond to the situation:
- Part 1: Apply the CRAAP test to the patient's blog source: evaluate it against ALL FIVE criteria (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose) and explain how it fails each one.
- Part 2: Identify TWO credible alternative sources (specific websites, databases, or resources) where the medical assistant could direct the patient to find accurate information about blood pressure medications. Explain WHY each source is credible using CRAAP criteria.
- Part 3: Reflect on your own research skills after completing CI1000: describe ONE specific strategy you will use in future coursework to evaluate healthcare information you find online.
- Initial post: 250+ words covering all three parts
- Two replies to classmates: 75+ words each
- Initial post due Wednesday 11:59 PM ET; replies due Sunday 11:59 PM ET
- Initial Post: Wednesday by 11:59 PM (ET)
- Two Replies: Sunday by 11:59 PM (ET)
| Criterion | Points |
|---|
| Applies all 5 CRAAP criteria correctly to the scenario source | 25 |
| Identifies two credible sources with specific CRAAP-based justification | 20 |
| Reflects on a concrete personal research strategy | 5 |
| Two substantive replies to classmates (75+ words each) | 10 |
| Total | 60 |
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
— Benjamin Franklin