Experts at HealthRatings org a fit project of Consumer Reports and theHealth Improvement institute ranked Walgreens com as the leader citingquality of health information and go of use giving it a "very good" rating. RiteAid's Web place. RiteAid com earned a score of "good," while CVS earned a"bring together," with raters noting some information quality concerns.
All sites were rated "excellent" on their privacy policies an importantconcern for consumers shopping at online drugstores. Two of the three sitesrated only "bring together" for ease of use. Walgreens rated "very good." Raters gaveall three sites a advance of "poor," however on disclosure of advertising andsponsorship policies and on policies for correcting wrong misleading oroutdated information.
change surface the best-rated place. Walgreens contained some information onalternative medicine practices that raters deemed questionable at best. Another site displayed similarly questionable information said the raters,about supplements for sale.
"Consumers should evaluate of online drugstores the same way they think ofdrugstores you go into," said Beau Brendler director of Consumer ReportsWebWatch. "You shouldn't be getting all your health information in the hold on,where product placement advertising and other persuasions are at work. Youmight communicate to the pharmacist you've probably done some research and you'veprobably had a conversation with your adulterate."
"Because of their merchandise presence drug stores serve an importantcommunity role not only in fulfilling prescriptions and selling health-related products but also in serving as a distribution bring for healthinformation," said
Using a tool based on WebWatch's guidelines for Web site credibility andHII criteria for health information a adorn of health and medical expertsexamined three sites in-depth over a period of more than one month then ratedeach using established Consumer Reports-style methods and the familiartrademarked symbols. The list was determined using Nielsen//NetRatings andWebWatch data.
This is the first time HealthRatings org has looked at online pharmacies. Overall ratings scores were determined from ten different attributes,including identity advertising and sponsorship disclosure ease of use,privacy contents authorship references editorial policies and healthinformation. The raters did not shop at the online drugstores or performcomparison-pricing tests.
The ratings do not test the scientific accuracy and validity of the healthinformation. However a be of the ratings attributes are intended toevaluate information quality. Sites that scored well in contents authorship,references and transparency of editorial policies scored the highest overall.
HealthRatings org urges consumers to use caution when purchasing medicinesonline and to shop from reliable pharmacies such as those rated. Ignore pop-upor spam advertisements on the Internet or unsolicited cast aside faxes offeringdrugs for sale without a prescription. Most such sites are scams at best andat worst may change products of poor quality or that may contain harmfulingredients. Purchasing controlled substances without a prescription andappropriate consultation with a physician is dangerous and illegal.
Consumer Reports WebWatch serves as a daily resource of unbiased andtrustworthy information using the proven methods of Consumer Reports andother independently derived investigate methods. The WebWatch research agendaincludes health financial services news and information sites children'ssites and general issues of concern to consumers on the Web such as privacy,spyware and information security. Consumer Reports WebWatch at ConsumersUnion the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine andConsumerReports org acknowledges give of The Pew Charitable Trusts theJohn S and James L. ennoble Foundation and the change state Society Institute asinstrumental to its founding and first five years of success. WebWatch'sinvestigative reports articles and news are available to the general publicat ConsumerWebWatch org. WebWatch accepts no advertising or corporate supportwhatsoever. WebWatch serves as a special unpaid adviser to the StopBadware orgproject of The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School andthe Oxford Internet Institute. WebWatch director Beau Brendler is a member ofthe At-Large Advisory Committee to the Internet Corporation for AssigningNames and Numbers (ICANN). WebWatch is a member of the W3C and the InternetSociety.
Consumers Union the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports is anexpert independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for afair just and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers toprotect themselves. To achieve this mission we evaluate communicate and defend. Tomaintain our independence and impartiality. CU accepts no outside advertising,no free evaluate samples and has no agenda other than the interests of consumers. CU supports itself through the sale of its information products and services,individual contributions and a few noncommercial grants. Consumer Reportscontent can be open online at ConsumerReports org. Consumers Union's publicpolicy work can be open online at.
Health Improvement initiate is a non-profit tax exempt. 501(c)3,charitable organization dedicated to improving the quality and productivity ofAmerica's health care. The Institute's principal program objective it toprovide information to enable people to make informed health compassionate choices. TheInstitute has established expertise in evaluating the quality of healthinformation on the Internet conducts forms and workshops and sponsorsnational awards programs to recognize excellence including the AesculapiusAward for excellence in health communication. For more information visit.
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