College of DuPage Library

2. YourWHATHurts? Finding Quality Health Information Credible?Accurate? Up-to-date? Presented by: Debra J. Kakuk Smith, MA, MLIS Health Sciences Librarian College of DuPage Library

3. Health Consumers use the Internet • MEDLINEplus Internet queries increasing • 53,071 visitors in 1st quarter, 1998, viewing 682,215 pages • 41,900,000 visitors in 2th quarter, 2010, viewing 182,000,000 pages! • 154 million people sought health information online in 2008 (67% of all adults) (Harris Poll)

4. According to recent Harris and Pew Internet & American Life Project Polls • Only 27% go to health specific sites, the rest use search engines • 85 million Americans (roughly 3/4 of all health seekers) hardly ever or NEVER check the source and date of information • "One-third later talked to a doctor about what they found online. Two-thirds did not."

5. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/usestatistics.html#graph

6. Seeker’s Dilemma... Where is the best information? Can it be trusted?

7. Triangle Connection Consumer Information Health Professionals Professionals

8. Responsibilities of Health Professionals • Provide diagnostic and screening tests/services • Communicate results to patients in compliance with HIPAA regulations • Develop plans of care with patients based on suggested/recommended treatment options • Administer treatment and monitor patient progress • Educate patients and caretakers • Provide safe, accurate care and information

9. Librarians can help find accurate, reliable health information

10. Library Staff Responsibilities • Respect Confidentiality/Privacy • Listen to what you have to say • Ask if you have researched the subject before • Identify the purpose & specific information needed (W,W,W,W,H,W) • Determine the correct format(s) • Ask about literacy level/computer comfort

11. Library Staff Responsibilities • Provide information • Avoid interpreting information • • Neither diagnose nor recommend treatment • • Practice compassionate neutrality • • Always refer specific medical questions to health care providers

12. Responsibilities of Consumers • Express question(s) as clearly as possible • Share all pertinent information • Know the correct spelling for drugs, diseases, conditions • Confirm the credibility of resources & information • Ask follow-up questions

13. Whenevaluatinginformation…consider: • Authorship/Authority • Bias • Content/Scope • Currency • Ease of Use • Level • Purpose • Reliability/Accuracy • Uniqueness ? ? ? ?

14. Whenevaluatinginformation…consider: • Authorship/Authority • Bias • Content/Scope • Currency • Ease of Use • Level • Purpose • Reliability/Accuracy • Uniqueness

16. Whenevaluatinginformation…consider: • Authorship/Authority • Bias • Content/Scope • Currency • Ease of Use • Level • Purpose • Reliability/Accuracy • Uniqueness

17. http://www.chadd.org/ • Leadership • Advocacy • Research • Education • Support

18. Whenevaluatinginformation…consider: • Authorship/Authority • Bias • Content/Scope • Currency • Ease of Use • Level • Purpose • Reliability/Accuracy • Uniqueness

19. Whenevaluatinginformation…consider: • Authorship/Authority • Bias • Content/Scope • Currency • Ease of Use • Level • Purpose • Reliability/Accuracy • Uniqueness

20. Whenevaluatinginformation…consider: • Authorship/Authority • Bias • Content/Scope • Currency • Ease of Use • Level • Purpose • Reliability/Accuracy • Uniqueness

21. Health Topics Drugs & Supplements Videos Medical Dictionary Encyclopedia Directories Organizations Clinical Trials Easy-to-Read materials Multiple Languages All ages medlineplus.gov

22. Whenevaluatinginformation…consider: • Authorship/Authority • Bias • Content/Scope • Currency • Ease of Use • Level • Purpose • Reliability/Accuracy • Uniqueness

23. http://kidshealth.org

24. Whenevaluatinginformation…consider: • Authorship/Authority • Bias • Content/Scope • Currency • Ease of Use • Level • Purpose • Reliability/Accuracy • Uniqueness

25. Whenevaluatinginformation…consider: • Authorship/Authority • Bias • Content/Scope • Currency • Ease of Use • Level • Purpose • Reliability/Accuracy • Uniqueness

26. Whenevaluatinginformation…consider: • Authorship/Authority • Bias • Content/Scope • Currency • Ease of Use • Level • Purpose • Reliability/Accuracy • Uniqueness

27. Unique resources and tools http://www.ahrq.gov/questionsaretheanswer/

28. Librarians can help you locate accurate, reliable health information

29. Villa Park Public Library Resources you can take home!

30. Remember to… discuss information with your health care provider, who can interpret it for you and apply it to your individual case

32. MedlinePlus Usage Statistics (July 11, 2010). Available: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/usestatistics.html Accessed: August 25, 2010. Pew Internet & American Life Project: “Online Health Search 2006." October 29, 2006. Available: http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/190/report_display.asp. Harris Interactive Inc. “Internet Provides Public with Health Care Information that They Value and Trust and Which Often Stimulates Discussion with Their Doctors.” Harris Poll #83 (July 28, 2009).Available: http://news.harrisinteractive.com/profiles/investor/ResLibraryView.asp?BzID=1963&ResLibraryID=34347&Category=1777. Accessed: April 14, 2010.