Locating Reliable Health Information on the Internet with . . .

Locating Reliable Health Information on the Internet with . . . www.tnchips.org Contact us at contact@tnchips.org First, a word about CHIPS…. • Partnership between the libraries at St. Thomas, Baptist, Gateway, Metro Health Dept., Middle TN Medical Center, Middle School of Anesthesia. • Each participating library will be linked to an online card catalogue. • The main outcome of this project is to create a more informed healthcare consumer ultimately resulting in better health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs to our community. Second, a word to the wise… • All information provided by CHIPS is general in nature. Please remember that information alone can't take the place of health care you may need. • CHIPS offers an information service only, and does not diagnose medical conditions, offer medical advice, or endorse specific products or services. Please consult your primary health care provider about any personal health concerns. Goals for this session • At the end of this class you will… – Know how to determine if a health Web site is reliable – Be familiar with MedlinePlus – Be familiar with additional health Web sites About the Internet • No one is in charge of the Internet. • A Web site can be put up by anyone who has the time, money and/or skills to do so. (Educational qualifications are not a consideration for having a Web site.) • Therefore… You cannot just “trust” information you find on the Web. Traditional Evaluation Criteria • • • • • Accuracy Authority Objectivity Currency Coverage Accuracy…… • How correct and reliable is the information? • Are there editors? -- Many Web resources are not verified. • Web standards to ensure accuracy not fully developed Authority… • Often difficult to determine authorship of Web resources • Almost anyone can publish on the Web • What are the author’s qualifications for writing on the subject? If author’s name listed, his/her qualifications frequently absent Objectivity….. • Is the information presented with a minimum of bias? • Web often functions as a virtual soapbox • To what extent is the information trying to sway the opinion of the audience? • Goals/aims of persons or groups presenting material often not clearly stated Objectivity… • Use recognized sources, such as governmental and organizational sites: .gov – sponsored by the government .edu – sponsored by a university .org – sponsored by a non-profit group • Beware of .com sites – these are commercial sites that must make a profit to stay in business!! Currency… • Is the content of the work up-to-date? Information older than 3 years is considered outdated. • Is the publication date clearly indicated? • Dates not always included on Web pages • If included, a date may have various meanings: Date first created, Date placed on the Web, Date last revised. Coverage… • What topics are included in the work? • To what depth are topics explored? • Web coverage may differ from print or other media coverage • Often hard to determine extent of Web coverage HON Code of Conduct • Sponsored by the Health on the Net Foundation • Addresses reliability and credibility of health information the Web. • Defines a set of rules to: *hold Web site developers to basic ethical standards in the presentation of information; * help make sure readers always know the source and the purpose of the data they are reading. The 1st place to start when looking for health information on the Web is… MedlinePlus.gov MedlinePlus information is: – Accurate – Current – Reliable – Reputable – Written by health professionals – No advertisements Virtual one-stop shopping for reliable healthrelated information Note: Spanish version This database provides ONLY information NO advertisements Click on Health Topics The Health Topics Page Select a letter for a topic OR Review the broad topics Notice the Broad Categories Variety of information types available on a typical health topics page Notice: Source is listed Each broad category will have multiple links with detailed information from each area of MedlinePlus to guide you in your search for information Looking for information by symptoms Looking for information on a procedure or therapy Looking for drug Information Drugs also listed alphabetically Click on letter for drug The information provided Information is similar to that provided by your pharmacy Directories Directories Find a physician Need a medical encyclopedia or dictionary?? It’s right here Stay healthy with these additional sites • Cancer.gov Information on all types of cancer (also includes prevention) http://www.cancer.gov/ • Healthfinder.gov Resource for finding the best government and non-profit health and human services information on the Internet. http://www.healthfinder.gov • ClinicalTrials.gov Regularly updated information about federally and privately supported clinical research in human volunteers http://clinicaltrials.gov/ cancer.gov Healthfinder.gov Clinicaltrials.gov