Searching for Health Guidance

A 2015 Pew Research Center Study reveals that "73% of all those ages 16 and over say libraries contribute to people finding the health information they need. 42% of those who have gone online at a library using its computers, internet connections or Wi-Fi have done so for health-related searches." In 2013, the Pew Research Internet Project reported that "59% of U.S. adults say they have looked online for information about a range of health topics in the past year. 35% of U.S. adults say they have gone online specifically to try to figure out what medical condition they or someone else might have." Whether the health information is needed for personal reasons or for a loved one, millions of health-related web pages are viewed by millions of consumers. Sometimes the information found is just what was needed. Other searches end in frustration or retrieval of inaccurate, even dangerous, information.

As many people have discovered, clicking on a favorite search engine and entering a disease or medical condition can often result in thousands, even millions, of "hits." This can be discouraging. Here are a few ideas for filtering the available web pages to a manageable number:

●If you are using a search engine such as Google or Bing, take advantage of the advanced searching features of the sites so that you can combine terms to make your retrieval more precise. For example, entering the term "cancer" and "chemotherapy" linked together is more powerful and precise than trying to read through all the hits found by simply entering the general term "cancer."

●Become familiar with the general health information finding tools such as MedlinePlus(http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/), produced by the National Library of Medicine, or Healthfinder® (http://www.healthfinder.gov) from the US Department of Health and Human Services, which can get you started by pointing you to good, credible health information quickly. The Medical Library Association's "Top Health Websites" is another device to help you start your search with a highly selective list of quality consumer health information sites trusted by medical librarians.

●When you have found sites that look relevant, use the guidelines below to help you decide whether the information is as credible, timely, and useful as it looks. 

How often is the site updated?

The site should be updated frequently. Health information changes constantly as new information is learned about diseases and treatments through research and patient care. websites should reflect the most up-to-date information.

The website should be consistently available, with the date of the latest revision clearly posted. This usually appears at the bottom of the page.

Does the site present facts and not opinion?

Information should be presented in a clear manner. It should be factual (not opinion) and capable of being verified from a primary information source such as the professional literature, abstracts, or links to other websites.

Information represented as an opinion should be clearly stated and the source should be identified as a qualified professional or organization.

Who is the intended audience?

The website should clearly state whether the information is intended for the consumer or the health professional.Many health information websites have two different areas - one for consumers, one for professionals. The design of the site should make selection of one area over the other clear to the user. 

Doctors remain the most trusted source of medical information, trusted by 95% of consumers. However, consumers are increasingly leveraging online resources to both prepare for appointments and validate physician recommendations – moving beyond diagnosis to become more active in the treatment decision.