10-08-2010
MedlinePlus diagnoses the problems with online health information
When looking for trustworthy information on the internet, the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health are two organizations that you’re happy to see on the homepage. That’s the case with MedlinePlus (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/). Not only will you find information on all the latest drugs and medicines, but you can find information about diseases and symptoms as well.NLM Director Dr. Donald A.B. Lindberg recognizes that the internet can be an important resource for people in need of health advice. However, MedlinePlus also realizes that much of the information out there cannot be verified or accounted for. Their “Guide to Healthy Web Surfing” teaches caution when looking for information, including looking for evidence, currency, ulterior (especially commercial) motives, and more. Depending on your learning style, you may find the “Evaluating Internet Health Information” interactive tutorial helpful. This short (16-minute) program doesn’t require any downloads other than Flash version 8 or higher, and teaches users how to find the best and most current information on any health topic they desire. As always, your doctor should always be a reliable resource as well, even if he points you to another, more specific source.
Posted by www.mdwebaccess.com in Medical Questions, Trustworthiness | RSS 2.0