Credibilty
What can I do?
According to a recent study released by Pew Internet & American Life Project 80 percent of Internet users have searched for health information online. The Pew study also finds that a consumer who uses the Internet as a resource for health education “stands a better chance of getting better treatment.” So it is clear that the Internet can be very helpful and a great resource but it can be a double-edged sword.
Many people turn to Google for their medical advice instead of talking to their doctor. According to a study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, only 43.5% of websites provided accurate information, 28.1% provided inaccurate information, and 28.4% were not relevant. When excluding the irrelevant websites 60.8% of the relevant websites provided accurate information. The most accurate sites were government websites, which were found to be accurate 80.1% of the time followed by organization websites, which were found to have a 72.5% rate of accuracy. The least accurate websites were retail product review sites, found to be only accurate 8.5% of the time. So, while the Internet can help us get better medical care by helping us be a more informed consumer and patient, it can also be a library of mis-information. So, what can we do?
Do's
Check sources If you are going to search for medical advice on Google, double-check the sources' validity before acting on the advice. Websites ending in .gov, .org, or. state are accurate and reputable sources.
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Ask your doctor- Always check with your doctor before following any advice.
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Look for key words- If you see the words “sponsored” or “ad” when clicking a link this is a sure sign what you are reading is an advertisement and is trying to sell you something and the odds of it being accurate are very low.
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Check for references and sources. If you are reading an article and it refers to a study see if there is a link to that study or if it mentions the study. Most reputable sources with information that withstands scrutiny will provide where they got their information so you can check the information for yourself.
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Check credentials. Who is giving the advice? Not everyone who is providing information needs to be a doctor or nutritionist but if they are giving you medical or nutrition advice they should know what they are talking about. A reporter can report information and do a great job breaking down information for you so long as they have done their due diligence and show their work and sources. If they are getting all of their information from professionals and just organizing it to make it easy for you to understand, that is fine, just make sure it is clear where this information is coming from and who is giving it.
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Dont's
Use only one resource for all you information. Always double check the information you hear.
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Be afraid to ask questions. Does it sound too good to be true? It probably is.
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Trust everything you read. Remember most information was found to be incorrect or outdated so check with reputable sources and if you have trouble finding them here is another great resource to help you.
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Doubt your doctor’s advice over something you’ve read on the Internet. Your doctor has many years of schooling, a license, and has sworn an oath to do no harm. They will pay serious consequences if they do not provide the best care. The person writing a blog and spouting off unfounded claims on the internet has nothing to lose. Who would you rather trust? If you really doubt what your doctor says, seek a second opinion but go to another doctor, not the Internet!
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Now what?
So, what should you use the Internet for? The Internet is a great place to find information about doctors. It can help you find ratings for doctors and their specialties; it can be helpful if you want help finding a male or female doctor. It can also be helpful for looking for support groups if you have a health condition or a loved one who does. It can help you look for information on the questions you might want to ask your doctor on your next visit. If you are having certain symptoms it can help you ask your doctor about them and be more comfortable talking about them. There are ways to be a more informed consumer and a more informed patient, it just takes some due diligence and a discerning eye. Hopefully with these tips and resources we have helped you become a bit more informed.