| The medical environment has changed completely | | | | .gov means that the source is a government |
| with the introduction of the internet and the | | | | agency; |
| proliferation of web sites offering free medical | | | | .edu means that the source is a university or |
| and healthcare information. | | | | another educational institution; |
| In today's world, more and more patients are | | | | .com means that the source is run privately and |
| using the internet to search for information about | | | | very well may be a commercial enterprise); |
| their diseases and for the latest treatment | | | | .org means that the source is a non-profit |
| options. In fact, according to a recent Harris | | | | organization. |
| Interactive survey, more than 100 million adults in | | | | 2. Who Is Responsible For The Site And What Is |
| the U.S. are using the internet to search for health | | | | The Mission Of The Site? |
| information. | | | | Look to see if there is any information on who is |
| Gone are the days when patients passively | | | | responsible for the site and what the mission of |
| accepted the treatment offered by their doctors. | | | | the site is. On many web sites you'll see a link, |
| Today, patients are partners in the decision | | | | either at the top or bottom of the page, which |
| making about their health. | | | | says something like "About US" or "Who We Are". |
| So, the obvious question is - How reliable is the | | | | Click on the link and see what information you |
| medical information you find on these free medical | | | | find. |
| web sites? | | | | 3. Is The Medical Information Presented On The |
| By the way, the fact that there are incredible | | | | Site Scientific Or Anecdotal? |
| free medical and healthcare information web sites | | | | If medical information is presented on the web |
| on the internet doesn't necessarily make it easy | | | | site then you should ask yourself is the |
| to find good information. | | | | information scientific or not. To be considered |
| For example, if you just enter the term Breast | | | | reliable, medical advances must be proven in |
| Cancer into Google a total of 130 million sites | | | | scientific studies in which many patients are |
| come up. Obviously, no one is going to look at all | | | | involved. Anecdotal studies of one patient's |
| those sites -in fact, most people rarely look | | | | response to a treatment are not considered to |
| beyond the sites listed on the front page or two. | | | | be reliable despite the fact that the stories may |
| As wonderful as the internet is as a resource, | | | | be extremely compelling. So, check out the web |
| you must remember that there is a potential | | | | site. Are the medical facts presented as the |
| downside as well. In the healthcare market, just | | | | results of documented studies or are anecdotal, |
| like in any other market, there are commercial | | | | undocumented stories of patients presented. |
| entities trying to sell you a product. Some | | | | Also, check to see if references are presented if |
| products may be legitimate but some may be | | | | the results of studies are discussed. Are the |
| scam cures just trying to take advantage of a | | | | studies from respected medical journals? |
| cancer patient's desperation. | | | | 4. Who Are The Authors Of The Medical |
| And, since the internet is largely unregulated, | | | | Information On The Site? |
| there is little regulation of the marketing | | | | Check to see who the authors are. What are the |
| messages. | | | | credentials of the authors? If necessary, you can |
| So here are five tips as you try to determine if | | | | even search using the author's names to see how |
| the medical information web site you're visiting is | | | | well known they are in their fields. |
| reliable or not: | | | | 5. How Up To Date Is The Medical Information? |
| 1. What Is The Ending Of The Website Name? | | | | Medicine is a rapidly changing field and you'll want |
| There are a number of sources of medical | | | | to make sure that the health information at the |
| information on the internet which tend to be | | | | site you're searching is updated frequently. If the |
| more reliable and trustworthy. These sources are | | | | information isn't updated regularly, they you may |
| more likely to be universities, hospitals, | | | | not learn about the latest developments. |
| government agencies, and major public health and | | | | The internet provides wonderful opportunities for |
| health advocacy organizations such as a national | | | | patients to find the latest and best healthcare |
| cancer society. | | | | information. Using these tips can help you make |
| The ending of the web site can give you a clue | | | | sure the information you find is reliable and |
| as to the source. For example, the ending: | | | | trustworthy. |