Use of the internet has increased rapidly over the past few years. This has affected people in many ways, good and bad. And the health and medical fields are no exception. In fact, more people search for health and medical information than any other topics. This simply indicates that people take their health seriously and are always searching for information improve their health and their well-being. But for many of us, even connect to a website is often difficult. We lost with volumes of information, advertising and promotions, all of which are catchy and very hard to resist. This can attract readers to websites which are neither useful nor would no utility. In addition, the information can be loaded with medical excuse, terminologies and other medical ideas that are difficult to understand as a non-medical person.
So, how have the right information? And how do we know that it is correct when there are stacks and layers of information to choose among? To compound the issue, information is often contradictory or even misleading.
In this article, I will briefly highlight some important points that can help readers in the choice of good health and medical information on the internet. I invite readers to ask the following questions in the analysis of a medical Web site, and the responses that they can determine the quality of the information on the Web site.
Owner of the Web site
Web site is owned by the Government, institutions of education or private businesses? In General, most belonged to Government Web sites are not biased and are promoted in the public interest. Majority of private or company owned Web sites is produced for the promotion of products to sell or other interests.
Author
Who is the author of the site? Is the author, a doctor, medical scientist, health professional or an expert in the medical field and health? Or he is a patient who has suffered from incurable disease for a long time, as sclerosis patient or cancer survivor? Is the author, a well known figure, or he or she has published other credible articles or books? The information on the Web site will be authoritarian if the author does not self-interest or the site is not sponsored by commercial organizations. Also, the site which has the coordinates of the author or Publisher gives more weight to the site as those who have no such information.
Content of the Web site
What is the content is updated? When was it updated? The content displays references to other sources by authorities? Is the information based on evidence? The plain language or is it loaded with medical excuse, terminologies, or other hard-to-understand ideas? People love to read articles that are easy to understand and written in the language of the secular clair. Demonstration simple or easy to understand charts and graphs help people understand the health and medicine at better terms.
Site Web promotes a holistic approach to health?
It is important to choose the right site for health and medical information. The site should provide complete and in depth on the subject of interest information. For example, if a Web site on cancer, readers should be able to get answers to questions such as:
What is breast cancer?Is there a cause of breast cancer?What are the risk factors for breast cancer?Work family?How is it diagnosed and treated?What happens if a patient refuses treatment?The site provides information on the complications of treatment or follow-up schedule?It provides information on the different modes of treatment?What prevention and breast cancer screening?The site deals with other issues related to breast cancer, including psychological and issues of sexuality, family and hardship etc.?
The site offers links to other sources of information for the help and support?
For example, a Web site on ' Quit Smoking' should have the assistance service telephone numbers, counselling services for smokers, telephone, or contact information for health professionals involved in smoking cessation programmes. "
What is a country or region-specific information?
Many Web sites provide information relevant to a country or region and is not adapted to international readers. Thus, such information of a Web site which is the country or specific area may be relevant or accurate step. For example, immunization schedules differ between countries, the level of health services and different types of treatment, and differs from the use of drugs even. Therefore, it is important to determine whether the information on the internet is for readers in a specific geographical area or country, or it can be used internationally.
In conclusion, even if the obtaining of good health and medical information on the internet seems quite difficult sometimes, ask some questions and get answers to these questions can help people in the choice of Web sites that may provide information relevant, impartial and up-to-date.
Dr. Naresh Parajuli
MBBS FRACGP MM MIPH
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