An integrative review protocol on interventions to improve users’ ability to identify trustworthy online health information

BACKGROUND: The epidemiological transition phenomena drive the attention to focus the scope on health literacy as it has an impact on patients’ health outcomes and quality of life. AIM: This paper aims to explore the implemented interventions for improving users’ ability to identify trustworthy online health information. METHODOLOGY: A comprehensive search of the literature will be conducted on the following electronic bibliographic databases: Ovid Medline, Embase, Cochrane database, Academic search complete and APA psycinfo. Further, manual search of eligible studies reference lists will be carried out to identify other eligible studies. The search strategy will include a combination of three key blocks of terms, namely: (adult OR adults) Or (patient OR patients) OR (layperson OR laypersons) OR (caregiver OR caregivers), (Intervention OR Interventions) OR Educational programs OR (health literacy And curriculum) OR Community outreach OR Interactive workshops OR (Online portal OR Patient Portals), and information seeking behavior OR consumer health information OR online information OR social media OR access to information. The results of these categories will then be combined using the AND connector. Two independent reviewers will screen and assess data quality. Disagreements will be resolved by consensus. Due to the anticipated methodological pluralism of the potentially eligible studies, a narrative synthesis of the findings on interventions aimed at improving users’ ability to identify trustworthy online information will be provided according to the pre-identified thematic areas. Furthermore, a narrative synthesis of the reported barriers and facilitators for applying these interventions by end users. EXPECTED RESULTS AND IMPACT: Given that the focus of our review findings is on understanding the breadth and depth of the global research into interventions to improve users’ ability to identify trustworthy online health information. The findings will be of great value to inform future innovative approaches to promote identification of trustable online sources for young people worldwide.