Free Authoritative Health Websites

Tampa Bay Library ConsortiumEmily Vardell, MLS

November 30, 2012emily.vardell@gmail.com

http://www.delicious.com/FLAHealthLinks

Searching for Health Info Online• 80% of Internet users, or 59% of U.S. adults, look online

for health information. – Based on a September 2010 survey, but it is a

remarkably stable trend dating back to 2002. • 31% of cell phone owners have used their phone to look

up health or medical information (it was only 17% one year ago). – Of particular interest to those interested in trends

related to young people, Latinos, and African Americans, since these groups are significantly more likely to gather information this way.

http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Mobile-Health.aspx Thanks to Alicia Ellison for the tip!

Searching for Health Info Online

• The most commonly-researched topics are:– specific diseases or conditions– treatments or procedures– doctors or other health

professionals

• The typical search for health information is on behalf of someone else -- information access by proxy.

http://www.pewinternet.org/Commentary/2011/November/Pew-Internet-Health.aspx

• Anyone can put anything up on the Internet and they DO!

• The quality of health information can literally be a matter of life and death.

What is at stake?

The Reference Interview

…when it comes to talking about health information

• Be empathetic• Be an active listener• Use open ended questions• Respect privacy/confidentiality• Be prepared for emotions• Do not be afraid to refer the patron back to his/her health care provider– Do not interpret medical information– Use a disclaimer or caution statement

Beyond an Apple a Day CE Course: http://nnlm.gov/training/consumer/apple/

Evaluating Health Info Websites

http://facweb.northseattle.edu/eappel/Hayek/

SPAT

http://www.spat.pitt.edu/

Who runs and pays for the Site?

• It takes money to run a website. • It should be obvious who is responsible for

the site.• Where does the site get its funding?

Does it sell advertising? Is it sponsored by a drug company or someone

trying to sell a product?

Who runs and pays for the Site?

• Look at the URL.Helps you find the site again.Helps you know who is responsible for the site.

Who runs and pays for the Site? • Web addresses can indicate the site’s purpose:

– .gov government – .edu education– .org noncommercial organization– .com commercial

• Look at advertisements.

http://1918.pandemicflu.gov/pics/posters/drug_ad.jpg

Who is Publisher of the content?

• Who is the publisher/author?– Hint: Look for the “Contact Us” section.

• What is the publishers’ authority?– Are the authors qualified in the topics’ field?– Can you find information about their credentials?

• Is the author a health professional? If not, do they refer to research or a health professional?

Who is Publisher of the content?

Potential for bias?Opinion or fact?Research/

references to back it up?

Who is the intended Audience?• Look at the words-Are they easy to understand?Are they geared towards a particular group?

Think of the ads during the evening news, a sports game, the Oscars, etc.

What is the Timeliness of the info? Medical information can change quickly! What was true ten years ago is not necessarily considered accurate today.

Information that is outdated can be dangerous!• Look for publication dates of particular

articles or at the bottom of the website.• Broken links may indicate the page is not

regularly updated.

Asking for Personal Information

• Does the website ask for information about you? Especially information about your health?– Why are they asking?– What will they do with the information?

Watch Out for Medical Quackery• Does the information seem to good to be true?• Is the information written in language that is too difficult to understand?

• Does the site or information promise miraculous results?

• The website should be easy to understand and clear.

• If you are unsure, check the information with another site.

Questions so far

Up Next: Recommended Websites!

http://medlineplus.gov/

MedlinePlus Searches

http://medlineplus.gov/

Health Topics in MedlinePlus

Population Groups

Or Search!

MedlinePlus Diabetes Page

MedlinePlus Diabetes Page Continued

Español?

MedlinePlus en Español

http://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ OR http://medlineplus.gov/salud/

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/training/trainers.html

MedlinePlus Magazine

• In English and Spanish

• Subscribe for Free!

• Libraries may order multiple copies!

http://nihseniorhealth.gov/

ToxMystery

http://toxmystery.nlm.nih.gov/

http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/

Tox Town

Disaster Information Management Research Center (DIMRC)

http://disaster.nlm.nih.gov/

Pages on Disaster Types

Hurricanes Page

http://disaster.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/hurricane.html

Radiation Emergency Medical Management (REMM)

http://www.remm.nlm.gov/

Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders (WISER)

http://wiser.nlm.nih.gov/

AIDSinfo

http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/

ClinicalTrials.gov

http://clinicaltrials.gov/

Household Products Database

http://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/

LactMed

http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT

TOXMAP

http://toxmap.nlm.nih.gov/

Dietary Supplements Labels Database

http://dietarysupplements.nlm.nih.gov/

Pillbox (beta)

http://pillbox.nlm.nih.gov/

NLM Databases

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/

Florida Electronic Library: Health

http://www.flelibrary.org

Health Reference Center

Diabetes

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

http://www.cdc.gov/

FastStats

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/

FastStats: Diabetes

Thank you! Questions?

Links: http://www.delicious.com/FLAHealthLinks

Presentation: http://www.slideshare.net/evardell/free-online-health-resources-11-3012-15414352