HIIQA Scope (inclusion/exclusion) Criteria

Health Improvement Institute has established the following criteria to judge if an award or rating is within the HIIQA's scope.

To view how the Institute uses the criteria to select which awards/ratings to assess

Please refer to definitions of award, rating, and other key terms

HIIQA inclusion criteria

I.1. All of the world's awards to and ratings of Internet health information sites that are available on the Internet. [Note: An award/rating does not have to be exclusively for health information sites, but must at least include such sites within its scope. If an award/rating does not state the criteria used to make the award/rating, it still falls within the HIIQA's scope, if, by its nature, the web site implies such criteria exist, for example, by using such terms as "evaluate," "assess," "judge," "rate," "review," "select," or "best". The volunteer assessment panel will note the fact that the web site does not display award/rating criteria (and the award/rating will not be eligible for the HIIQA because it does not meet that standard).]

I.2 The ratings organization must maintain an Internet site, such as a WWW site, to inform consumers about the award/rating.

I.3 The award/rating must be one of the following:

I.3.1 (Competitive) award - The Internet site organization applies to the ratings organization for special recognition of its site. [Note: Any competitive award should be included regardless of the amount of the entry fee. Assessors will determine whether or not the award meets this HIIQA standard.]

I.3.2 Unsolicited award - The ratings organization gives an award to an Internet site (without that site having to apply for the award). [Note: If an award/rating is unsolicited and the award/rating organization website does not mention how it notifies the recipient of the award, it is still within the HIIQA's scope. It is not necessary that the award/rating organization notify winning health information sites. Any unsolicited award should be included even is there is a fee to display the award, for example. Assessors will note this fee and the award/rating will not be eligible for the HIIQA because it does not meet this standard.]

I.3.3 Rating - The ratings organization gives the rated website an overall global rating (and/or various attribute ratings). [Note: The ratings organization may grant an award, such as a "seal of approval" to a website that achieves a minimum global rating. In such instances, because there is a published rating, the award/rating is classified as a rating (rather than an award). Any rating should be included even if there is a fee to be rated or to use the resultant rating. Assessors will note this fee and the award/rating will not be eligible for the HIIQA because it does not meet this standard.]

I.3.4 Accreditation (certification) - The Internet site organization applies to the ratings organization for accreditation (certification) of its site. The Internet site organization receives accreditation (certification) if it meets the ratings organization's standards for accreditation (certification). [Note: Any accreditation (certification) scheme should be included regardless of fees. Assessors will determine the reasonableness of accreditation or certification fees, if any.]

I.3.5 Top-10 list (or other rank-ordering such as "best of the web," "site of the week," and "editors' choice") - Any delimited list of websites rank-ordered by the ratings organization on the basis of a stated or implied global rating, or the top or bottom rated (best or worst) website on such a list. [Note: Any Top-10 list should be included even if there are fees associated with ranking. Assessors will note this fee and the award/rating will not be eligible for the HIIQA because it does not meet this standard.

HIIQA exclusion criteria

E.1 Codes of conduct - Guidance to assist webmasters to conform to accepted and/or acceptable policies and practices (but only if the code-issuing organization neither permits Internet health information sites to display a logo indicating adherence to the code of conduct nor assess the extent to which such websites adhere to the code's standards). [Note: If the code-issuing organization lists or gives examples of organizations or websites that say that they adhere to its code of conduct, it is de-facto granting them accreditation/certification, and thus falls within the above inclusion criteria.]

E.2 Evaluation tools - Guidance to assist health professional or consumers to evaluate the quality of an Internet health information site, and/or the health information it displays or contains.

E.3 Lists based only on the number of hits, that is, the number of visitors to a site.

E.4 Lists of Internet sites or links to such sites compiled by an individual without regard to any stated or implied criteria, including, for example, "John's favorite WWW cancer prevention sites."

E.5 Books or other print publications that rate Internet health information sites but whose contents are not available on the Internet.