# health information on Wikipedia

> Wikipedia's content on health and medicine topics

**Wikidata**: [Q16235120](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16235120)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_information_on_Wikipedia)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/health-information-on-wikipedia

## Summary
Health information on Wikipedia is the platform's content covering health and medicine topics, intended for both patients and health professionals. It is part of Wikipedia's broader content and serves the goal of health education. The content is available in multiple languages and has been viewed billions of times.

## Key Facts
- Health information on Wikipedia is a subclass of health information on the Internet and Wikipedia content.
- It is intended for both patients and health professionals.
- The content is available in 10 Wikipedia languages: Arabic, Catalan, Sorani Kurdish, English, Spanish, Persian, Hausa, Indonesian, Japanese, and Korean.
- In 2019, health information on Wikipedia had approximately 2.05 billion pageviews.
- It is related to Wikipedia's coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has 12 sitelinks.
- The content has 14 sitelinks across Wikimedia projects.
- Aliases include "Wikipedia medical content," "health information in Wikipedia," and "medical information on Wikipedia."
- The Wikidata description is "Wikipedia's content on health and medicine topics."

### Q: What is health information on Wikipedia?
A: Health information on Wikipedia is the platform's content covering health and medicine topics, intended for both patients and health professionals. It serves the goal of health education and is available in multiple languages.

### Q: Who is the intended audience for health information on Wikipedia?
A: The intended audience includes both patients and health professionals who seek reliable health and medical information.

### Q: How popular is health information on Wikipedia?
A: In 2019, health information on Wikipedia had approximately 2.05 billion pageviews, demonstrating its widespread use and importance as a health information resource.

## Why It Matters
Health information on Wikipedia plays a crucial role in democratizing access to medical knowledge worldwide. As one of the most visited websites globally, Wikipedia serves as a primary source of health information for millions of people, including patients seeking to understand their conditions and health professionals looking for quick references. The platform's open-editing model allows for rapid updates to medical content, particularly important during public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. By providing free, multilingual health information, Wikipedia helps bridge knowledge gaps across different populations and geographic regions. The content's high viewership numbers indicate its significance as a trusted source, though users should always consult healthcare providers for personal medical advice. Wikipedia's health information also supports health education initiatives by making complex medical topics accessible to the general public.

## Notable For
- One of the most accessed sources of free health information globally, with billions of pageviews
- Available in 10 major world languages, making medical knowledge accessible across diverse populations
- Closely integrated with Wikipedia's COVID-19 pandemic coverage, providing real-time updates during health crises
- Serves dual audience of both patients and health professionals, unlike many specialized medical resources
- Part of the broader Wikipedia ecosystem, benefiting from the platform's established credibility and editing infrastructure

## Body
### Content Scope and Classification
Health information on Wikipedia encompasses all medical and health-related content within the platform. It is classified as both health information on the Internet and Wikipedia content, making it a unique hybrid that benefits from Wikipedia's established infrastructure while serving a specific educational purpose. The content is further categorized as an information campaign, reflecting its role in disseminating health knowledge to the public.

### Multilingual Availability
The health information is available in 10 Wikipedia language editions: Arabic (ar), Catalan (ca), Sorani Kurdish (ckb), English (en), Spanish (es), Persian (fa), Hausa (ha), Indonesian (id), Japanese (ja), and Korean (ko). This multilingual approach ensures that health information reaches diverse global audiences, though coverage depth varies by language.

### Usage Statistics and Impact
According to Pageviews Analysis data from 2019, health information on Wikipedia received approximately 2,051,820,275 views. This massive viewership demonstrates the platform's role as a primary source for health information worldwide. The high traffic volume suggests that people regularly turn to Wikipedia for health-related questions, making it a significant player in public health information dissemination.

### Relationship to Public Health Events
The content is closely related to Wikipedia's coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has 12 sitelinks across Wikimedia projects. This relationship highlights how health information on Wikipedia can rapidly adapt to emerging public health situations, providing timely updates during global health crises. The platform's ability to quickly update content makes it particularly valuable during fast-evolving medical situations.

### Intended Audience and Purpose
The content serves a dual audience: patients seeking to understand health conditions and health professionals looking for quick references. This broad targeting distinguishes it from more specialized medical resources that might focus exclusively on one audience. The stated goal of health education guides the content's development, ensuring it remains accessible while maintaining medical accuracy.

## References

1. [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Medicine/Popular_pages)