In conclusion and summary, we cannot necessarily make authority judgments for people in the domain of online consumer health information, even if we as information professionals consider it to be authoritative based on our own criteria. The boundaries are too blurry, and what meets one person's needs for mainstream empirical research based on randomized controlled trials will not match another's desire for learning about complementary treatment options or peer-based discussion boards.
The article continues with Professor Neal writing that a broad area of research needs to take place with public service and web development professionals (including both practitioners and researchers) "working together" in how the information professional handles the "rapidly growing spectrum" of "health information expectations." Finally, the reader is invited to join this area of research.
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