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Our Expert on LVHHN
Q: Is it wise to search for health information on the internet?Ask Our Expert About Health Info on the Internet
About Our Experts
MaryAnne Peifer, M.D.
Kathryn Armstrong
Q: Is it wise to search for health information on the internet?A: Millions of people view millions of health-related web sites every year. With all this information available at the click of a mouse, knowing fact from fiction can be confusing. Still, the internet can be a valuable resource to obtain health information if you know what to look for. Q: I get thousands of hits when I use a search engine to find medical information. Can I narrow the search?A: Yes. By using the advanced searching features on search engines like Google and Yahoo, results will be more precise. For example, entering the terms diabetes and insulin linked together provide more specific results than just the general term diabetes. It's also a good idea to use web sites sponsored by the National Library of Medicine (www.medlineplus.gov) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (www.healthfinder.gov) to identify good, credible health information quickly. Q: Does the web address tell me anything about the site's credibility?A: Yes it can. An address that ends in .gov is sponsored by a government agency. An educational institution address ends in .edu and a professional organization, like a research society, can be identified as .org. Commercial sites identified by .com will most often identify the web site's sponsor as a company. Q: What should I look for to ensure a web site's information is reliable?A: First, there should be no questions as to who sponsors the site. Sponsorship helps establish the site as respected and dependable. Second, ask yourself if the site is trying to sell you anything? Although many .com sites have credible information, it may be presented in a way that entices you to buy their product. To find out if a site is offering objective information, visit www.networksolutions.com/whois, type in the name of the site you're interested in and learn who owns and operates it. Finally, a quality site backs up its facts with references to medical journals and studies and has an advisory board that approves the information being presented. Any opinions should be clearly stated and credited to a qualified health care professional or organization. Q: How can I be sure the information is current?A: Because new information about diseases and treatments is constantly being discovered, the date of the site's latest revision should be clearly posted at the bottom of the page. Even if the information has not changed, it's reassuring to know the site's owner has recently reviewed its validity. Q: If a site is credible, will the information be too hard to understand?A: Probably not. Many health information web sites have two distinct areas - one for consumers and one for professionals. Q: How do I know it's safe to act on health information found on the internet?A: No one knows the status of your health better than your doctor or health care provider. So, even if you've identified a web site as credible, print out the information you're interested in and show it to your doctor or health care provider and discuss it with them. Never use internet information to diagnose yourself. Instead, use the information as a basis for questions you may have about your health. The internet can be a great way for you to learn more information about your condition or to find resources such as support groups in your area. Your doctor or health care provider will decide if the information you gathered is in your best interest. This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
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