Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Trusted medical information is available on the Internet
The internet is a wide-open, continuously updated library of everything -- including health information.
Unfortunately, because this library is open to unscrupulous and uninformed people, the information you find could be anything from accurate, to useless, and even harmful.
Dangerous drug and medical misinformation is out there, but there are also many trusted and highly regarded websites that offer accurate medical information.
Here are a few tips to help you decide for yourself which sites can be trusted and which ones to steer clear of as well as a few of my personnel favorites:
What is the purpose of the website? If the purpose of the website is to sell you a product, then be very careful. The internet has revived the practice of selling cure-all tonics and lotions from long ago. And just like back then, they are too good to be true. Beware of websites promoting any product promising a new medical “breakthrough,” “secret ingredient,” “ancient cure,” or cures many different conditions all at once.
Where does the website come from? You can tell a lot about the legitimacy of a website by the ending in it name. Those that end in “.gov” are sponsored by our government. Major medical schools and universities will use “.edu” at the end of their names. Non-profit organizations like the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association or The William W. Backus Hospital use “.org”. Other trusted sources include major chain drug stores.
Is the information based on medical evidence and reviewed by professionals before it is posted? Reputable websites will list the names, title, and professional affiliations of the authors and reviewers of the articles. Any facts, figures, or evidence discussed should have references to studies in medical journals. It is also important for authors to disclose if any information is merely their opinion, or widely accepted “evidence-based” medicine.
Here are four websites that I refer friends and family members to:
UpToDate is an independent medical information website that is available free on www.backushospital.org. The information is updated regularly and is written and reviewed by medical experts. Symptoms, diagnostic tests, prevention strategies, and treatment options are covered for over 7,400 health topics.
www.FDA.gov is the internet home of the US Food and Drug Administration. It is a reliable source for not only drug information, but for medication safety advice, side effect warnings, latest information on recalls, and information about generic alternatives.
www.safemedication.com is a website operated by the American Society of Health-system Pharmacists. Along with providing commercial-free drug information, this website has tools to help you mange your list of medications and many tricks and tips on proper medication administration and safety.
www.webmd.com is a commercial website that provides medical information to both professionals and the public. Its content is expertly written and independently reviewed. New articles are posted daily to keep you informed of the hottest topics in healthcare.
Information learned on the internet, even from the trusted sites above, should not replace the information you gain from your own physician or pharmacist. Only they will know your unique conditions and history.
The benefit of these websites is that they provide supplemental information to the advice you get from your healthcare providers and to help you stay on top of the latest news about your condition in between office visits.
Michael Smith is a pharmacist and Clinical Coordinator in the Department of Pharmacy Services at The William W. Backus Hospital. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, please comment here or e-mail Smith and all of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org.
Unfortunately, because this library is open to unscrupulous and uninformed people, the information you find could be anything from accurate, to useless, and even harmful.
Dangerous drug and medical misinformation is out there, but there are also many trusted and highly regarded websites that offer accurate medical information.
Here are a few tips to help you decide for yourself which sites can be trusted and which ones to steer clear of as well as a few of my personnel favorites:
What is the purpose of the website? If the purpose of the website is to sell you a product, then be very careful. The internet has revived the practice of selling cure-all tonics and lotions from long ago. And just like back then, they are too good to be true. Beware of websites promoting any product promising a new medical “breakthrough,” “secret ingredient,” “ancient cure,” or cures many different conditions all at once.
Where does the website come from? You can tell a lot about the legitimacy of a website by the ending in it name. Those that end in “.gov” are sponsored by our government. Major medical schools and universities will use “.edu” at the end of their names. Non-profit organizations like the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association or The William W. Backus Hospital use “.org”. Other trusted sources include major chain drug stores.
Is the information based on medical evidence and reviewed by professionals before it is posted? Reputable websites will list the names, title, and professional affiliations of the authors and reviewers of the articles. Any facts, figures, or evidence discussed should have references to studies in medical journals. It is also important for authors to disclose if any information is merely their opinion, or widely accepted “evidence-based” medicine.
Here are four websites that I refer friends and family members to:
UpToDate is an independent medical information website that is available free on www.backushospital.org. The information is updated regularly and is written and reviewed by medical experts. Symptoms, diagnostic tests, prevention strategies, and treatment options are covered for over 7,400 health topics.
www.FDA.gov is the internet home of the US Food and Drug Administration. It is a reliable source for not only drug information, but for medication safety advice, side effect warnings, latest information on recalls, and information about generic alternatives.
www.safemedication.com is a website operated by the American Society of Health-system Pharmacists. Along with providing commercial-free drug information, this website has tools to help you mange your list of medications and many tricks and tips on proper medication administration and safety.
www.webmd.com is a commercial website that provides medical information to both professionals and the public. Its content is expertly written and independently reviewed. New articles are posted daily to keep you informed of the hottest topics in healthcare.
Information learned on the internet, even from the trusted sites above, should not replace the information you gain from your own physician or pharmacist. Only they will know your unique conditions and history.
The benefit of these websites is that they provide supplemental information to the advice you get from your healthcare providers and to help you stay on top of the latest news about your condition in between office visits.
Michael Smith is a pharmacist and Clinical Coordinator in the Department of Pharmacy Services at The William W. Backus Hospital. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, please comment here or e-mail Smith and all of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org.
# posted by ----------------- @ 11:58 AM 
