Facebook
Digg
Reddit
Technorati
Slashdot
Twitter
Google
Yahoo Buzz
Delicious
StumbleUponThe (Web) Doctor Is In
September 17, 2007
Bookmark & Share
Summary
With the wide array of health-related Web sites available online, the Internet can indeed be a valuable source of health information for you and your family.
In This Article
When her infant daughter suddenly developed rhythmic shaking movements, Mary Lyons of Boston called the baby’s pediatrician to make an appointment. Then, she sat at her computer and Googled her daughter’s symptoms.
Increasingly, many of us are harnessing the Web to gather health or medical information.
“I found quite a lot of information,” Lyons said. “It was enlightening, but not necessarily helpful in regards to my daughter’s condition specifically, as there were so many variables that could have caused her symptoms.”
A recently released study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project shows that in 2006 eight out of 10 American Internet users sought health information online. And Harris Interactive, reports that 75% of British adults using the Internet searched for health-related information in 2005.
With the wide array of health-related Web sites available online, the Internet can indeed be a valuable source of health information for you and your family.
The downside for online health seekers is that a great deal of the medical information found in cyberspace can be outdated, misleading, or simply inaccurate.
For example, after a quick spin through Drkoop.com you might assume the site is associated with C. Everett Koop, the former U.S. Surgeon General. But, a closer look reveals it is now owned by the HealthCentral Network, and has no ties, except for the domain name, to the former health chief.
Unfortunately, few of us are paying attention. The Pew study found that 75% of those who research health topics online don’t bother to evaluate the quality of the information they find.
In the U.K., growing concerns about people using the Internet to self-diagnose prompted a group of doctors to create BestTreatments, a Web site offering health information and advice culled from the British Medical Journal.
The following tips can help you determine which Web sites provide reliable health information:
Increasingly, many of us are harnessing the Web to gather health or medical information.
“I found quite a lot of information,” Lyons said. “It was enlightening, but not necessarily helpful in regards to my daughter’s condition specifically, as there were so many variables that could have caused her symptoms.”
A recently released study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project shows that in 2006 eight out of 10 American Internet users sought health information online. And Harris Interactive, reports that 75% of British adults using the Internet searched for health-related information in 2005.
With the wide array of health-related Web sites available online, the Internet can indeed be a valuable source of health information for you and your family.
The downside for online health seekers is that a great deal of the medical information found in cyberspace can be outdated, misleading, or simply inaccurate.
For example, after a quick spin through Drkoop.com you might assume the site is associated with C. Everett Koop, the former U.S. Surgeon General. But, a closer look reveals it is now owned by the HealthCentral Network, and has no ties, except for the domain name, to the former health chief.
Unfortunately, few of us are paying attention. The Pew study found that 75% of those who research health topics online don’t bother to evaluate the quality of the information they find.
In the U.K., growing concerns about people using the Internet to self-diagnose prompted a group of doctors to create BestTreatments, a Web site offering health information and advice culled from the British Medical Journal.
The following tips can help you determine which Web sites provide reliable health information:
- Find out who created the site and why. Since just about anyone can put up a Web page, reputable Web sites make it easy for you to learn who is responsible for the site and its information --usually by including an About Us or About This Site link on the homepage. Taking time to review a site’s agenda should help you evaluate the trustworthiness of the information posted.
- Consider the source. Does the information come from a dependable source? Keep in mind that many health-related Web sites collect information that comes from other sources. Be skeptical of sites that do not clearly state the original source. Also, opinion and advice should be clearly set apart from medical research.
- Protect your privacy. Requests to sign in or register to access health information should always be seen as a red flag. Before revealing any personal information, review the site’s privacy policy to see how they will use your information.
- Check for currency. Health information is constantly changing; therefore, outdated medical information will not reflect the latest research and treatments. Health-related Web sites should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis to ensure that the information is current. If a date isn't included, check the copyright line to see when the information was originally written. And if the page you're reading hasn't been reviewed in the past year, look for more recently updated information.
When confronted with a health issue, it’s natural to long for answers. And many doctors agree that the Internet can be a tremendously helpful tool for patients. But, they also caution against using the Web for self-diagnosis and self-treatment.
"Before we saw a specialist, I think my anxiety was heightened by some of the things that I read online,” acknowledged Lyons. “However, after my daughter was diagnosed with benign essential tremors, I was then able to look up more in-depth information on the Web, which was invaluable.”
"Before we saw a specialist, I think my anxiety was heightened by some of the things that I read online,” acknowledged Lyons. “However, after my daughter was diagnosed with benign essential tremors, I was then able to look up more in-depth information on the Web, which was invaluable.”
Related Links
Bookmark & Share