About Online Medical Information
Consumers are using the Internet to get information about
health. How reliable is this information? That's not an
easy question to answer. But there are some things you can
do to protect yourself against unreliable information.
Here are some suggested questions for you to ask that may
help determine the reliability of a website:
Who maintains the site?
Government or university run sites are among the best sources
for scientifically sound health and medical information.
Private practitioners or lay organizations may have
marketing, social or political agendas that can influence
the type of material they offer onsite and which sites
they link to.
Is there an editorial board or another
listing of the names and credentials of those responsible
for preparing and reviewing the site's contents?
Can these people be contacted if visitors to the site have
questions or want additional information?
Does the site link to other sources
of medical information?
A reputable organization will not position itself as the
sole source of information on a particular health topic.
On the other hand, links alone are not a guarantee of reliability.
Since anyone with a Web page can create links to any other
site on the Internet--and the owner of the site that is
"linked to" has no say over who links to it--then a person
offering suspect medical advice could conceivably try to
make his or her advice appear legitimate by, say, creating
a link to FDA's website. What's more, health information
produced by FDA or other government agencies is not copyrighted;
therefore, someone can quote FDA information at a site and
be perfectly within his or her rights. By citing a source
such as FDA, experienced marketers using careful wording
can make it appear as though FDA endorses their products.
When was the site last updated?
Generally, the more current the site, the more likely it
is to provide timely material. Ideally, health and medical
sites should be updated weekly or monthly.
Are informative graphics and multimedia
files such as video or audio clips available?
Such features can assist in clarifying medical conditions
and procedures. Bear in mind, however, that multimedia should
be used to help explain medical information, not substitute
for it. Some sites provide dazzling "bells and whistles"
but little scientifically sound information.
Does the site charge an access fee?
Many reputable sites with health and medical information,
including FDA and other government sites, offer access and
materials for free. If a site does charge a fee, be sure
that it offers value for the money.
If you find something of interest at a site—say, a new
drug touted to relieve disease symptoms with fewer side
effects—write down the name and address of the site, print
out the information, and bring it to your doctor. Your
doctor can help determine whether the information is supported
by legitimate research sources, such as journal articles
or proceedings from a scientific meeting.
In addition, your doctor can determine if the drug is appropriate
for your situation. Even if the information comes from a
source that is reputed to be reliable, you should check
with your doctor to make sure that it is wise for you to
begin a certain treatment. Specific situations (such as
taking other drugs) may make the therapy an inadvisable
choice. Your doctor can decide whether the drug is suitable
for you and may be able to offer more appropriate alternatives.
(from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website)
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