Transcript Accessing Critical Health Care Information

Finding Health
Information on the
Internet:
Jane Bryant
Healthy Web Surfing:
Beyond Google…
What We’ll Cover
 How to make informed decisions about
health related Web sites
 A look at a few of the well respected
health related sites on the Web
What We’ll Cover
 A look at some “other” health related
Web sites
 How to get the most out of Google
when looking for health information
What We’ll Cover
 An overview of MedlinePlus – the best
source of one-stop-health information
on the Web
Making Informed
Decisions
Make sure the web site is credible
and authoritative
Features might include:
 Trusted name
 Qualifications/Credentials
 “About” this site feature
 HON accreditation
Making Informed
Decisions
Make sure the web site is credible
and authoritative
Features might include:
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
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Easy to navigate
Privacy upheld
References and/or outside links
Date
Clear purpose
Anatomy of a URL
www.ukhealthcare.uky.edu
www.cancer.org
www.cdc.gov
www.mayoclinic.com
Everyone’s Favorite…
 Google
 Google has improved dramatically for health
related searching
 Disadvantages/Advantages
Red Flags
 No links to other sites
 Difficult to navigate
 Health assessments that require you to
provide personal information to get a “full
report”
Red Flags
 Play on people at sensitive times
 Full of testimonials
 Claims that “they” are out to suppress
information
Red Flags
 Claims of:
 “Cure all”
 “Scientific breakthroughs”
 “Ancient remedies”
 “Only available here!”
So how do you pick?
 Leave it to the experts…
Simply go to MedlinePlus.gov
MedlinePlus.gov
 The best site for health information on
the web, bar none.
 If you don’t remember anything else from
this presentation, remember:
MedlinePlus.gov
MedlinePlus.gov
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One stop shopping
Federally sponsored web site
Links to sites that have been evaluated
Paid for by YOUR tax dollars
MedlinePlus.gov
Drug/Herb/Supplement
Information
 MedlinePlus medlineplus.gov
(includes drugs, herbs & supplements)
 PDR www.pdrhealth.com
(includes pictures of many medications)
Complementary &
Alternative Medicine
 MedlinePlus
http://medlineplus.gov
 NCCAM
http://nccam.nih.gov/
 The Alternative Medicine Homepage
http://www.pitt.edu/~cbw/database.html
State/Local Health Info
 Fayette County Health Department
http://www.lexingtonhealthdepartment.org/default.asp
 Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
http://chfs.ky.gov/
 StateHealthFacts.Org
http://www.statehealthfacts.org/
One final note...
(http://www.ahrq.gov/questionsaretheanswer/in
dex.html)
Making informed decisions about the health
web sites you choose is part of your overall
involvement in your own health care. This
AHRQ web site can help you pull it all together
when it counts!