With a few computer keystrokes, people who have Internet access can find literally thousands of health-related Web sites. But much of this information is misleading or simply incorrect.
Reliable health information that’s free of charge online…
1. Information on medications and supplements. Your doctor and pharmacist are good resources, but there are several Web sites that also can help.
Best sites: The Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR) Web site (www.pdrhealth.com) explains the conditions for which a prescription or over-the-counter drug, or dietary supplement or herbal remedy, may be prescribed…how best to take it…and whether it may interact with foods or other medications.
If you can’t find a particular medication listed at the PDR Web site or if you’re taking an expensive brand-name drug and want to see whether it’s available in a less expensive generic equivalent, check the FDA’s Electronic Orange book (www.fda.gov/cder/ob).
For a list of other Web sites that provide information on medications and supplements, consult the resource library on the health information Web site www.diagknowsis.com, which gives advice on how to research medical diagnoses and treatments, along with links to credible health Web sites.
2. Doctors’ credentials. Your neighbor may have had a good experience with his orthopedist, but is this doctor the best one to perform your hip surgery? It’s important to check the credentials of any doctor you may consider using.
At a minimum, a doctor should be licensed, the basic credential issued by each state. The Federation of State Medical Boards Web site (www.fsmb.org/directory_smb.html) provides a directory of state boards that allows you to confirm that a particular doctor is licensed to practice.
To check whether a doctor is board-certified in his/her medical specialty, which ensures that the physician has met minimum competency and continuing education requirements, go to the American Board of Medical Specialties Web site (www.abms.org) or call 847-491-9091. To inquire about a doctor of osteopathy, consult the American Osteopathic Association (www.osteopathic.org) or call 800-621-1773.
3. Secrets to living with medical conditions. Let’s say you’re wondering how to get through a long movie when you have arthritis, what to say to a friend with cancer or how to tell your boss about your diabetes. These kinds of questions are ideal to ask at online health forums, where you can get input on problems that you might want to discuss with a friend—if only you had one who had been in a similar situation.
How online health forums work: People with access to the Internet can share their experiences and advice on a “message board” where others who log on to the same Web site are able to read the messages and respond to them, if they so desire. Keep in mind that the people who post comments on these message boards are not medical professionals. They are patients and caregivers who are speaking from their own experience.
Good sites: HealthBoards (www.healthboards.com) offers more than 150 message boards on a variety of health topics…Daily Strength (www.dailystrength.org) provides access to more than 500 online support groups dedicated to physical and mental health issues. Some Web sites sponsored by organizations that focus on specific diseases, such as the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (www.leukemia-lymphoma.org), also offer online message boards.
Important: Communications posted on an online health forum’s message board are anonymous, so any information or advice that involves specific treatment recommendations or medical products should always be verified with a medical professional. When participating in these forums, do not provide identifying details, such as your last name, phone number or address. It’s okay to provide your first name and city or state.
Look for the “HONcode” accreditation from the Health on the Net Foundation in Switzerland, which guides lay users and medical professionals to reliable sources of health-care information online. This accreditation ensures that the Web site has been deemed a reliable source of health information and meets standards, including those related to the qualification of the authorities cited on the site, privacy of personal data submitted by a visitor to the site and financial disclosures of funding sources.
