Treatment choices for depression: young people's responses to a traditional versus a health 2.0 website

This exploratory study compared young people's credibility appraisals of, and behavioural intentions following, depression treatment information provided on a Health 2.0 website compared to a traditional e-health website. On the traditional website, each depression treatment was assigned an efficacy rating based on its evidence base. In contrast, on the Health 2.0 website, each depression treatment was assigned an overall 'helpfulness' rating derived from the aggregated feedback of young people with lived experience of depression. This study was the first to explore credibility appraisals of evidence-based versus consumer-generated medical treatment ratings from the perspective of e-health consumers.