Development of a Web-Site Providing Health Related Information for the Disabled

Park, Hyeoun Ae; Min, Yul Ha; Ryu, Dong Hee; Byun, Young Chan; Kim, Sung Hee; Yun, Sang Yong

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to develop a Web-based health information service system for the disabled. To identify users' information needs, we conducted an online and offline survey of the disabled and their caregivers as well as welfare institutes' staff. Based on the user's information needs, a Web-site was developed. The Web-site was evaluated by users for their satisfaction with the Web-site and by experts for the quality of the site. Content of the Web-site includes information on rehabilitation, welfare, and diseases causing the disability, definition and classification of disability, prevention from disability, management of the disabled, and disability related policies. Besides this information, FAQ on the disabled, statistics, links to the disabled institutes and Web sites, risk factor appraisal tool, and aiding tools for the disabled are added. The Web site is a subsystem of the Healthguide. Users rated efficiency, convenience, and design of the site highly in their satisfaction rating. Staff at welfare institutes rated design, efficiency, and relevance of the site highly in their satisfaction rating. Experts rated easiness, reliability, clearness and appropriateness of the site highly in their site evaluation. It is expected that this Web-based health information service system for the disabled will contribute to the disabled's health promotion as well as provide a community for the disabled related researchers, professionals and experts to share information on the disabled's health.