Finding
Accurate and Reliable
Health Information
on the Internet
What We Will Cover Today
• Evaluating online health information
• Finding online health information
– MedlinePlus
– NIH Senior Health
– Agency for Healthcare Quality
and Research:
Questions are the Answer
• Using Health Information
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Disclaimer
Online health information is
in no way meant to substitute medical
advice from a medical professional
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Online Health Information
• 10 million Americans go online
each day to search for health
information
• 66% do not review the quality
of the source
• 66% did not talk to a doctor about
the information
• 50% of health searches have an
impact on the person’s health care
Source: Fox. Online Health Search 2006. Pew Internet & American Life Project.
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Health Information on the Internet
• High quality health information is freely and
easily available on the Internet
• Inaccurate and misleading information is also
freely and easily available on the Internet
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Evaluating Online Health Information
 Consider the Source
– Who is responsible for the content?
– Is there an “about us” page?
 Focus on Quality
– Are the authors or editors experts in the subject?
– How is the information selected or approved?
 Look for the Evidence
– Does the site identify the author?
– Does it cite references for more information?
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Evaluating Online Health Information
Check for Currency
– Is the information current?
– Can you tell when the site was
last updated?
Beware of Bias
– Who is sponsoring the site?
– Are they trying to sell you something?
Source: MedlinePlus Guide to Healthy Web Surfing: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthywebsurfing.html.
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Evaluating Online Health Information
Protect Your Privacy
– Does the site have a privacy
policy?
– Does it ask you to provide
personal information?
Be a Cyberskeptic
– Does the website make claims that seem too good to
be true?
– Are quick, miraculous cures promised?
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MedlinePlus
• Description: Health information
website that brings together quality
information from government
agencies and health-related
organizations.
• Features: Medical encyclopedia and
dictionary, drug and supplement
information, interactive tutorials,
easy-to-read materials, resources in
multiple languages, surgery videos
• Web Address: http://medlineplus.gov
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Now It’s Your Turn!
• Go to http://www.medlineplus.gov
• Use the search box to look up
information on a disease of condition
• You may also want to try:
– Looking at drug and
supplement information
– Watching an interactive
tutorial
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NIH Senior Health
• Description: A health information
website developed especially for
older adults. It contains
information, videos, quizzes and
frequently asked questions on 43
aging-related health topics.
• Features: Adjustable text size,
contrast function to make text
more readable, talking function
that will read aloud the text on the
screen.
• Web Address:
http://www.nihseniorhealth.gov
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Now It’s Your Turn!
• Go to NIH Senior Health:
http://www.nihseniorhealth.gov
• Navigate your way through a Health Topic
• You may also want to try:
– Enlarging the text
– Turning on the contrast
feature
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Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research
Questions are the Answer
• Description: A website to help patients
take an active role in their health care by
asking questions, understanding their
conditions, and evaluating their options.
• Features: A Build Your Question List
feature allows you to create a custom list
of questions to print and take with you to
your next appointment.
• Web Address:
http://www.ahrq.gov/questionsaretheanswer
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Now It’s Your Turn!
• Go to
http://www.ahrq.gov/questionsaretheanswer
• Use the Build Your Own List of Questions tool
to create a list related to:
– Getting new prescription
– Receiving a diagnosis
– Considering a new treatment
– Having medical tests
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Good Information in Practice
• Share the information and any
concerns you may have with
your health care provider
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions
• Being better informed about your health
issues allows you to communicate more
effectively with your health care provider
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Questions?
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Created By:
Anne Beschnett, MLIS
Outreach Librarian
University of Minnesota Health Sciences Libraries
Additional health literacy resources are available from the Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership Website at:
http://www.healthliteracymn.org
Last Updated: April 18, 2011
The Health Literacy Program for Minnesota Seniors (HeLP MN Seniors) is brought to you by
The University of Minnesota Health Sciences Libraries and the Minnesota Health Literacy
Partnership. Funding was provided through a subcontract from the National Library of
Medicine National Network of Libraries of Medicine under contract number N01-LM-6-3503.
This work is protected by an Attribution Share Alike (cc by-sa) license. Under this license, others
are able to remix, tweak, and build upon the original work even for commercial reasons, as long
the original source is cited and derivative works are licensed under identical terms. For more
information, see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
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