The Cancer Nutrition Network for Texans presents:

Creating Cancer Care Teams: A workshop for Cancer Patients

and their Family Caregivers

The CNNT is funded by the University of Texas Medical Branch and the Texas Cancer Council Contract # 08-94

Finding the Best InformationWhat to consider when assessing health information.

We hope that you will walk away fromthis seminar equipped with the tools andknowledge to find credible resources for

researching cancer and caregiver topics via the:

Internet Magazines

Health Journals Newspapers

Books

What you should know about .com health sites…

Some websites may represent a specific company or have support from a company that uses the web for commercial purposes:

…to make money by SELLING PRODUCTS.

Internet AreasInternet Areas

.com = for-profit company.com = for-profit companyExample: Example: www.cancer.comA pharmaceutical companyA pharmaceutical company

.edu = educational institute.edu = educational instituteExample: Example: www.utmb.edu

The University of Texas Medical BranchThe University of Texas Medical Branch

.gov = government agency.gov = government agencyExample: Example: www.cancer.govNational Cancer InstituteNational Cancer Institute

.org = non-profit agency.org = non-profit agencyExample: Example: www.cancer.orgAmerican Cancer SocietyAmerican Cancer Society

Guide to Finding Information on the Internet

Is the site updated frequently? Health information

changes constantly.

Does it establish the site as respected and dependable?

Intended Audience (i.e. consumer or health professional)

Informational Websites

Factual Information

Information presented in a clear manner

Factual (not opinion)

Capable of being verified from professional resources

Information that is represented as an opinion,should be clearly stated and the source

identifiedas a qualified professional or organization.

1. Who are the authors?• Is the information anonymous?• What are their credentials?

2. Do the authors have a hidden agenda?

• Is there a conflict of interest?• Is the information one-sided or

biased?• Is there a claim of a miracle or secret

cure?

Articles, Books, and Pamphlets

How credible is the source?

Are they selling something?

Trust your Instincts!

Who published the Who published the information?information?

Organization Website Address

The National Cancer Institute (NCI)

www.cancer.gov

Cancer Nutrition Network for Texans

www.utmb.edu/nsights/default.htm

Cancer Gateway of Texas www.cancergateway.org

American Cancer Society http://cancer.org

1. Where did the information come from?

• Is the original source referenced?

• Is it based on scientific evidence?

• Is it supported by data?

2. What kind of evaluations have been done on the information?

• Is the information peer reviewed?

• Do other sources substantiate the information?

Fear is our greatest enemy . . . information our greatest ally.

Acknowledgements

We’d like to thank the following partners for their support and those that allowed us to

share their reliable information:

Medical Library Association

The Cancer Nutrition Network for Texans

Texas Cancer Council

The University of Texas Medical Branch

American Cancer Society