How to make privacy policies both GDPR-compliant and usable

It is important for organisations to ensure that their privacy policies are General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant, and this has to be done by the May 2018 deadline. However, it is also important for these policies to be designed with the needs of the human recipient in mind. We carried out an investigation to find out how best to achieve this.We commenced by synthesising the GDPR requirements into a checklist-type format. We then derived a list of usability design guidelines for privacy notifications from the research literature. We augmented the recommendations with other findings reported in the research literature, in order to confirm the guidelines. We conclude by providing a usable and GDPR-compliant privacy policy template for the benefit of policy writers

Using explainable food swaps to nudge users towards more sustainable products in grocery websites

The growing concern for climate issues has prompted both consumers and the grocery retail industry to prioritize environmental sustainability. This thesis aims to examine the effectiveness of nudging users towards more sustainable food options in an online grocery store using food swaps. Further, the study utilizes different motivational explanations accompanying the swaps to investigate their impact on swap acceptance and perceived understand- ing. A mockup supermarket interface was created, and screenshots were uploaded to an online survey tool, where participants (N=202) were assigned to one of four conditions (baseline, health, sustainability, or money). Results indicate that motivational framing did not significantly influence swap acceptance. However, perceived understandability was significant in affecting swap acceptance, with the sustainability framing being better understood. Participants were more likely to swap when the cost of the alternative product increased, suggesting other factors influenced consumer behavior. Finally, perceived similarity between the original and alternative product significantly affected the swap acceptance and perceived similarity, where meat swaps showed a strong positive, statistical significance. This thesis provided novel work within the field of encouraging more sustainable products in online grocery shopping services, which can further be expanded by implementing sustainable food swaps in a recommender system.Masteroppgave i informasjonsvitenskapINFO390MASV-INF

Efficacy of Privacy Assurance Mechanisms in the Context of Disclosing Health Information Online

Privacy policy statements and privacy-assurance cues are among the most important website features that online providers could use to alleviate web customers’ privacy concerns. This study examines the moderating role of privacy concern on how privacy assurance cues and argument quality contribute to increased trust, and the subsequent decision to disclose health information online. This study has both theoretical and managerial contributions. The results provide insight about the dual roles of privacy policy statements, and privacy assurance and trust cues. The study highlights the differential impacts such mechanisms have on high privacy concerned and low privacy concerned web users in the context of disclosure of health information online

What is health information quality? Ethical dimension and perception by users

Introduction. The popularity of seeking health information online makes information quality (IQ) a public health issue. The present study aims at building a theoretical framework of health information quality (HIQ) that can be applied to websites and defines which IQ criteria are important for a website to be trustworthy and meet users’ expectations. Methods. We have identified a list of HIQ criteria from existing tools and assessment criteria and elaborated them into a questionnaire that was promoted via social media and mainly the University. Responses (329) were used to rank the different criteria for their importance in trusting a website and to identify patterns of criteria using hierarchical cluster analysis. Results. HIQ criteria were organized in five dimensions based on previous theoretical frameworks as well as on how they cluster together in the questionnaire response. We could identify a top-ranking dimension (scientific completeness) that describes what the user is expecting to know from the websites (in particular: description of symptoms, treatments, side effects). Cluster analysis also identified a number of criteria borrowed from existing tools for assessing HIQ that could be subsumed to a broad “ethical” dimension (such as conflict of interests, privacy, advertising policies) that were, in general, ranked of low importance by the participants. Subgroup analysis revealed significant differences in the importance assigned to the various criteria based on gender, nationality and whether or not of a biomedical educational background. Conclusions. We identified criteria of HIQ and organized them in dimensions. We observed that ethical criteria, while regarded highly in the academic and medical environment, are not considered highly by the public

Turkish consumers’ understanding and use of nutrition labels on packaged food products

This research has been funded by the Dogus University Scientific Research Projects Support Fund (project number: BAP-2010-11-D1-B01)The purpose of this study is to examine Turkish consumers’ understanding and use of nutrition labels found on packaged food products. Data was collected from a total of 500 consumers living in Istanbul through the use of a structured and undisguised questionnaire. Apart from the descriptive statistics, analyses were conducted with respect to the demographic variables of “gender”, “age”, “education”, and “districts of the city respondents lived in”. Significant differences were found to exist particularly among those living in the different districts of the city. “Follow-up of nutrition related news in the media” has also been analyzed. Implications of the study for consumers, producers, retailers, and the state together with further research are presented in the last part of the paper. Although the findings of the study pertain to the Turkish market, its implications may be applicable in other countries, as well, where nutrition labeling is not mandatory for the time being.Dogus University Scientific Research Project

Content and Face Validity of the Evaluation Tool of Health Information for Consumers (ETHIC): Getting Health Information Accessible to Patients and Citizens

Background: Health information concerns both individuals’ engagement and the way services and professionals provide information to facilitate consumers’ health decision making. Citizens’ and patients’ participation in the management of their own health is related to the availability of tools making health information accessible, thus promoting empowerment and making care more inclusive and fairer. A novel instrument was developed (Evaluation Tool of Health Information for Consumers—ETHIC) for assessing the formal quality of health information materials written in Italian language. This study reports ETHIC’s content and face validity. Methods: A convenience sample of 11 experts and 5 potential users was involved. The former were requested to evaluate relevance and exhaustiveness, the latter both readability and understandability of ETHIC. The Content Validity Index (CVI) was calculated for ETHIC’s sections and items; experts and potential users’ feedback were analyzed by the authors. Results: All sections and most items were evaluated as relevant. A new item was introduced. Potential users provided the researchers with comments that partly confirmed ETHIC’s clarity and understandability. Conclusions: Our findings strongly support the relevance of ETHIC’s sections and items. An updated version of the instrument matching exhaustivity, readability, and understandability criteria was obtained, which will be assessed for further steps of the validation process

Readability and quality of online information regarding dental treatment for patients with ischaemic heart disease

Background: Healthcare information is increasingly being sought on the Internet. Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) poses a significant health burden. Concern often arises for patients with IHD when undergoing dental treatment, leading to online searching for relevant healthcare information. / Objective: To evaluate the readability and quality of webpages regarding IHD and dental treatment. / Materials and methods: Three searches were performed on the Google search engine. The first hundred results of each search were collated and exclusion criteria applied. The remaining 66 webpages were categorised. Readability was assessed using the FRES and SMOG readability tools. Quality was assessed using the PEMAT questionnaire, the JAMA benchmarks and the Health On the Net (HON) seal. / Results: Most examined webpages were commercial. Readability of 90.1% of webpages was deemed fairly to very difficult. Understandability and actionability scores were generally below the comprehension level of the general population. Less than 50% of websites achieved the authorship, attribution and disclosure JAMA benchmarks. Only 12.1% of websites displayed the HON seal. / Conclusions: Online health information related to IHD and dental treatment is generally too difficult for the average individual to read, understand, or act upon, and may be of questionable quality. Given the low health literacy rates among the general population, future revisions of educational materials by non-commercial sources regarding IHD and dental treatment are warranted, in order to ensure online health information is understandable and of genuine benefit to patients and/or their carers

Food labels: An analysis of the consumers' reasons for non-use

     Food labeling is found to be a very important public health tool aimed at providing consumers with information which may influence their purchasing decisions. This study has aimed to assess the consumers' behaviors about the important information on the labels and their reasons for use or non-use. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted as point of purchase survey among 2123 shoppers in chain stores in Teharn, Iran, during 2008-2009. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire which contained 4 sections measuring respondents’ background, knowledge, perception, and behaviors about information on food labels. Results showed that 82.8 % of consumers look at food label information when purchasing food products. Younger adults (aged 20-40 years), female, married, employees and holders of a diploma and higher, individuals with higher level of knowledge, and those in the group categories of monthly income higher 6 million rials were significantly more likely to use food labels. Most of the respondents (29.3%) found small print on food labels to be the main reason for not reading food labels information, followed by no interest (26.3%), do not believe (12.6%), do not understand (7.1%). Our study suggests that increasing nutrition knowledge and understandable and legible food labeling can increase the likelihood of food label usage.  

Health Literacy in Occupational Therapy Research: A Scoping Review

Background: Low health literacy is a significant problem in the United States. Patient education is a key component of occupational therapy intervention. Occupational therapists have the skills to develop patient education materials (PEMs) all patients can understand. Few studies on health literacy exist in occupational therapy research. The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize the breadth of literature on health literacy in occupational therapy research and to identify knowledge gaps. Method: A scoping review methodological framework (Arksey and O’Malley, 2005; Levac et al., 2010) was used to search five databases. A descriptive numerical summary and qualitative thematic analysis were used to summarize the results. Results: Eighteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Quantitative results describe variation in research design, outcome measures, intervention focus, and setting. Qualitative themes include exploring health literacy knowledge, practices and perceptions of occupational therapists, and assessment of consumer needs and understanding related to health literacy. Gaps in the literature include the impact of low health literacy on patient outcomes, guidelines for appraising and modifying PEMs, and the effectiveness of modified PEMs. Conclusion: There is a need to establish evidence-based guidelines and a standard of care for patients with low health literacy

Audiovisual information of oral epithelial dysplasia: Quality, understandability and actionability

OBJECTIVES: Online information on oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) is insufficient and of low quality. While only written information has been previously assessed, this study aims to evaluate the content and quality of audiovisual (AV) online information about OED. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-seven materials were initially considered using six key words across two search engines (YouTube and Google). Ultimately, 29 materials remained for the final assessment. These materials were then analysed for content, quality (DISCERN instrument, JAMA benchmarks), understandability and actionability. RESULTS: Most contents were scientific (n = 25), while three videos were educational, and one video was a personal experience with OED. On a scale of 1–5, the overall DISCERN score was (mean ± SD = 2.26 ± 0.79), suggesting poor quality of information. Regarding JAMA benchmarks, there was no single material that fulfilled or lacked all four benchmarks. The overall mean understandability score was 82% and the actionability mean score was significantly low at 29%. CONCLUSIONS: Although the vast majority of AV materials on OED were primarily produced for scientific purposes, these materials could be helpful as resources for patient education. Keeping in mind, however, that the desired quality and essential patient information about OED available online remains largely poor and missing