Rx for Good Health : Finding Reliable Consumer Health Information on the Web

1. Rx for Good Health : Finding Reliable Consumer Health Information on the Web Michele Matucheski, MLS, AHIP Librarian, Affinity Health System

2. Sunday Quilter

3. Affinity Library Services • Locations : Appleton & Oshkosh • Consumer Health Books and AV to check out • Computers with Internet access / Wi-Fi • Assistance of a Professional Librarian • Get Articles NOT otherwise free on the internet

4. Goals • At the end of this program, you will • Understand how to tell if a website is trustworthy • Be able to use the MedlinePlus and NIH SeniorHealth websites to find quality health information • Be aware of other reliable health websites for seniors

5. Who do you trust? Act I

6. Did you know … • A recent survey reported over 113 million American adults use the internet to find healthcare information (80% of American adult internet users) • 66% of health seekers start with a search engine ; 27% start at a health-related website (Online Health Search 2006. Accessed 11/09/2006 at www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Online_Health_2006.pdf)

7. Did you know … • 8 million Americans go online looking for health info every day • Only about 15% of them follow the recommendations of checking the source every time they search for information.

8. About the Internet • No one is in charge • Few rules and regulations • Anyone can build a website and publish on the internet • No educational or professional qualifications required to publish on the Internet • Therefore, you cannot automatically trust information found on the Web. Internet Power Searching, The advanced Manual, Phil Bradley, Neal-Schuman Publishers.

9. But how can I tell if a health website is reliable, nor not?

10. Remember the ABCs of Evaluation • Accuracy • Authority • Bias • Currency • Coverage

11. “Healthy” Internet Searching • Look for writer’s qualifications • Physicians (MD, DO) • Nurses (RN, BSN, CRNP) • Registered Dieticians (RD, LD) • Doctoral Degree Holders (PhD) • Testimonials from the public are NOT reliable sources of information.

12. “Healthy” Internet Searching • Search reliable sources • Use recognized sources and look for these domains at the end of a website address • .org = not-for-profit agency • .edu = educational institution • .gov = government institution

13. “Healthy” Internet Searching • Evaluate .com sites very carefully • Remember, they are used by businesses to help them make money or to promote a product.

14. Warning • Beware of sites like • WebMD.com • Gerd.com • Prostate.com • DrKoop.com • These and similar sites may have some reliable information, but their main purpose is NOT to educate the consumer, but to make money.

15. “Healthy” Internet Searching • Check the date the information was written or last updated • In general, health information more than 5 years old is outdated

16. A Quick Checklist • Type of website (.com / .edu / .gov) • Who sponsors the health website? • What is the purpose/mission? • Who are the authors? • Who are the reviewers? • When was it last updated? • What is the privacy policy? • Accurate info? Or too-good-to-be true? • Contact info?

17. Example Website Evaluation • Mayo Clinic’s Senior Health Center • http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/senior-health/HA99999 • This site is in the top 5 results for a Google Search for “senior health” • Let’s check it out using our ABCs of Evaluation criteria and the Checklist.

21. “Our mission is to empower people to manage their health. We accomplish this by providing useful and up-to-date information and tools that reflect the expertise and standard of excellence of Mayo Clinic.”

22. “The senior medical editors are experienced Mayo Clinic clinicians and educators … They work on a daily basis with Web content producers and editors to ensure that all content is accurate, clear and relevant … Specialty medical editors … work with our editorial staff to bring you timely, relevant and accurate information tools.”

23. “MayoClinic.com maintains a distinct separation between advertising content and editorial content. All advertising content on MayoClinic.com … is clearly labeled as an advertisement. Sponsored areas of the site are labeled as such, and the sponsoring organizations are identified.

28. A Quick Checklist • Type of website (.com / .edu / .gov) • Who sponsors the health website? • What is the purpose/mission? • Who are the authors? • Who are the reviewers? • When was it last updated? • What is the privacy policy? • Accurate info? Or too-good-to-be true? • Contact info?

29. Mock Website

30. Mock Website – Page 2

31. Mock Website – Page 3

32. Who do you trust, revisited • Act II

33. Break

34. Where is the first place YOU go for health information on the internet?

35. Where is the first place YOU go for health information on the internet?

36. Isn’t there an easier way? Evaluating all those websites and results can be time-consuming.

37. When looking for reliable, high-quality health information in the Internet, a GREAT place to start is … MedlinePlus.gov

38. Accurate Current Reliable Reputable Written by health professionals Free of ads Available 24/7 Available in Spanish FREE to use, no registration required MedlinePlus information is …