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According to the most
recent Pew Internet study, 80 percent of
us are turning to the Internet for
health and medical information.
Unfortunately, not everyone
is finding good, credible health information.
Instead, what many of us are finding isn’t
useful, and may even be wrong and dangerous.
From providing straight marketing
information that isn’t objective, to
misinformation, even snake oil, too many
individuals and businesses are more interested
in separating us from our money, than helping us
improve our health.
Sometimes it’s not
easy to identify which information is
worthwhile. When we are frightened or desperate,
we lose objectivity. We may be tempted to
believe information that otherwise would raise
red flags, or at least make us pause to question
it. Sometimes what we think is good objective
information, is instead advertising in disguise.
How can you tell which information is
worth believing? Establish the site’s
credentials, then follow the money.
Here’s how:
Begin by looking behind the scenes to
see who put the information you’ve found online.
Try to figure out what that individual or
organization stands to gain by providing you
with that information.
Is the site
focused only on selling or promoting one product
or brand of product? Then it’s not objective –
it’s advertising. Does it describe a treatment
protocol that you can’t find confirmed somewhere
else? Then it may not be tested, approved or
safe. A site may make claims that “doctors
approve” or that “medical research shows…” but
look to see who those doctors are and what
research it refers to. You may want to double
check the cited research to be sure the claims
on the website are true.
If you aren’t
sure whether a website’s information is
credible, ask someone else to help you review
it, someone who has no emotional stake in your
health outcomes or the information’s
objectivity. A librarian or neighbor might be a
good choice.
Once you’re convinced it’s
credible and objective, then it will be time to
discuss your findings with your doctor. But
tread lightly. Doctors complain that they spend
too much time convincing patients that something
found on the web isn’t what it seems, or doesn’t
apply to their situation. Be sure you don’t
waste the little time you get with your doctor.
The Internet is a tremendous tool for us
patients who want to be better informed, as long
as it’s used wisely.
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