The NIHR is exploring the potential of using Wikipedia to disseminate health and care research. The online encyclopedia is one of the most visited health resources on the internet:

English Wikipedia has more than 50,000 articles of medical relevance
Its medical articles have been viewed nearly two billion times in 2021
50-70% of UK doctors consult it for healthcare information
It is one of the most visited sources for medical students

In this seminar, the NIHR’s Wikipedian in residence will talk about his role and share insights on how the NIHR is using Wikipedia to disseminate research findings. He will also explain how researchers, PPI representatives and staff can participate in NIHR's project.

Background

Contrary to its negative reputation, research has shown Wikipedia’s medical articles to be reliable and high-quality in general. Wikipedia also has rigorous policies ensuring the quality of content, for example requiring editors to cite reliable sources for all information they add to the encyclopedia.

Following the increasing academic interest in Wikipedia, in recent years many institutions employed Wikipedians in residence to expand their reach. The role aims to help the host institutions contribute their knowledge and research to Wikipedia articles. Institutions which employed a Wikipedian in residence include the British Library, the British Museum, Welcome, the University of Edinburgh, the USA’s NIOSH and National Institutes of Health, Cochrane and Cancer Research UK. Since December 2021, the NIHR also has a Wikipedian in residence, Adam Harangozo.

*Please note this session will be recorded.

Using Wikipedia to disseminate health and care research