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By Jeannette Moninger With more than 1 billion website pages covering every health woe from asthma to yeast infections, the Internet has become one of the most widely used sources of health information—and misinformation. Every day, 8 million Americans turn to Dr. Dot Com, not their doctors, to learn more about health conditions. And the number of “cyberchondriacs” continues to rise: A 2007 Harris Interactive poll shows that 71 percent of us turn to the web for health information, up from 53 percent just two years before. Unfortunately, not all websites are keeping up with our demands for the latest and most accurate information. Here’s how to search smarter. Refine your search. Type the words “breast cancer” into a search engine like Google or Yahoo and you’ll be greeted with a staggering 50 million-plus website pages to filter through. You can whittle that number down significantly—and find the most relevant matches for you—by using the search engine’s “advanced search” option (located to the right of the text bar). With this tool, you can search for exact phrases (such as homeopathic breast cancer treatments), exclude pages containing certain words (so you can find everything having to do with breast cancer treatments except the homeopathic ones), and narrow down findings to those posted within the last three months, six months or year. It works: A general search for “homeopathic breast cancer treatment” on Google nets more than 880,000 pages; while an advanced search of the exact phrase yields a more manageable three websites. Consider the source. The site’s sponsoring organization, such as a hospital, nonprofit organization, university medical center or federal health agency, should be clearly identified at the top of the website’s home page (if not, look for an “about us” link at the top or bottom of the page). “Consumers can feel pretty safe with the information provided by government organizations (sites ending in .gov) or educational institutions (sites ending in .edu),” says John D. Halamka, M.D., chief information officer of the Harvard Medical School. Some sites clearly identify the authors of the posted material, with information written by physicians or reviewed by an editorial board of health professionals considered the most credible. Keep in mind that the content of web logs or “blogs,” online journals written by individuals, generally isn’t reviewed by experts, and even blogs written by health professionals can have underlying agendas. Seek seals of approval. Look for sites that have been accredited or certified by either the Health on the Net Foundation (HON) or URAC, independent nonprofit organizations that review health care websites [note: this used to be an acronym for utilization review accreditation commission, but the company has gone by URAC since 1996]. Participation in either program is voluntary and seals of approval (generally found at the bottom of a website’s home page) don’t guarantee 100 percent accuracy. Still, Halamka says they’re a positive indication that the content is well researched. Check the expiration date. At the end of each article, look for the date it was posted or when it was last reviewed and updated. If the content is more than five years old or you can’t locate a date, move on to a more current site. Look out for hidden agendas. Ads and sponsorships should be clearly labeled as such. Be alert for potential conflicts of interest, such as a web page about treatments for depression that repeatedly touts one particular brand name drug (a pharmaceutical company could be providing the content and/or financing the website). While the info might be accurate, it’s wise to also consult other impartial sources. Get second (and third) opinions. Even if a credible site answered your questions, invest time looking at several others. You may discover contradicting opinions or new treatment options. And because online information is written for a general public, discuss your findings with your doctor. “Health information must be considered within the context of the individual. A person’s medical and family history, current medications and allergies all play a role in diagnoses and treatments,” says Rick Kellerman, M.D., president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Personalize your searches. Google and Microsoft are developing systems that will utilize your securely stored health profile (you’ll be able to pick and choose what to include such as age, weight, allergies, and medical conditions) to generate personalized health guides (covering everything from suggested treatments to drug interactions to diet and exercise regimens). You’ll also be able to maintain your personal medical records so you can easily access them if you move out of state or switch doctors. Just What the Doctor Ordered Watching a surgical procedure The Best of Times Health & Wellness Guide
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Stop Googling Your Symptoms Find Reliable Health Information Online