FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Julie Mulzoff
Public Communications Inc.
312/558-1770
Carla Funk
Medical Library Association
312/419-9094
EVALUATING HEALTH SITES ON THE INTERNET
Advice from Webmaster Librarians
CHICAGO, May 27, 1998 - The Internet has changed the way medical information is developed, shared and evaluated. Medical professionals are rapidly growing accustomed to relaying everything from diagnostic data to research inquiries on the Internet. And the general public is also turning to the web for answers to health questions. An estimated one in three Internet users are seeking health and medical information online and there are now more than 10,000 health-related web sites.
Determining the credibility of health information on the web can be difficult for the average person. Medical librarians, who have been dealing with computerized medical information since the advent of MEDLARS (National Library of Medicine's Computerized Literature and Analysis System) in 1964, are experts in finding and evaluating health care information.
"Medical librarians can point people to the best Internet sites, help them narrow down their reading choices, or explain complicated information in easy-to-understand terms," said Rachael K. Anderson, AHIP, president of the Medical Library Association (MLA), an organization that represents 4,000 medical librarians in health, medical and academic centers across the nation.
The MLA offers the following advice to anyone seeking health care information on the Internet: (Attached is a list of web sites recommended by the MLA.)
Who sponsors the web site? Check to see who sponsors the web site. Credible sources include medical associations, hospitals, medical centers and schools. Manufacturers of medical devices, pharmaceuticals and other health-care products often have good information but most exclude information about competing products. The web site host should be clearly identified.
How often is the site updated? Reliable web sites are regularly updated and you should be able to easily determine when the information was posted.
Is the information factual or does it represent opinions? If opinions are being presented, is the source readily identifiable?
Is the web site intended for medical professionals? If medical terminology or unfamiliar terms are prevalent on the web site, it is probably not intended for the general public.
"We believe an informed patient is a better patient," said Carla J. Funk, MLA's executive director. "Traditionally, the resources of medical librarians have only been available to physicians and other health care professionals. Nowadays, more and more people want a better understanding of their own health care needs and are turning to the media and to the Web for information."
To help people understand "medspeak" terms, the specialized language of health care professionals, the MLA has developed a brochure, "Deciphering Medspeak." Copies of this brochure are available by writing the Medical Library Association, 6 North Michigan Ave., Suite 300, Dept. BR, Chicago, Ill., 60602-4805 or calling the MLA at (312) 419-9094. The brochure is also available via e-mail at [email protected].
"As we move into the 21st century, it is clear that the advancement of telecommunications technology will continue to revolutionize the delivery of health care in America," said Funk.
For information on contacting a medical librarian in your community, call the Medical Library Association at (312) 419-9094, ext. 12 or e-mail at [email protected].
MLA is a professional organization of more than 1,200 institutions and 3,800 individual members in the health sciences information field. MLA members serve society by developing new health information delivery systems, fostering educational and research programs for health sciences information professionals and encouraging an enhanced public awareness of health care issues. Medical Library Association's Recommended Web Sites
HEALTHFINDER http://www.healthfinder.gov
This site was developed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services to direct the public to selected online publications, clearinghouses, databases, web sites, and support and self-help groups, as well as the government agencies and not-for-profit organizations that produce reliable information for the public.
HEALTHWEB http://www.healthweb.org
The HealthWeb is a collaborative project of the health sciences libraries of the Greater Midwest Region of the National Network of Libraries Medicine and those of the Committee for Institutional Cooperation, to develop an interface, which provides links to evaluated non- commercial, health-related, Internet resources.
KID'S HEALTH http://www.kidshealth.org
KidsHealth is the mighty Web site devoted to the health of children and teens. This site provides up-to-date information about growth, food and fitness, childhood infections, immunizations, lab tests, medical and surgical conditions, and the latest treatments.
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE http://www.nlm.nih.gov
The MEDLINE site is a database of the National Institutes of Health's National Library of Medicine. It is the world's largest collection of medical information featuring more than 9 million references from medical journals all over the world.
MAYO HEALTH O@SIS http://www.mayo.ivi.com
This site is updated daily by a team of Mayo physicians, scientists, writers and educators. It is the only site that gives you access to the experience and knowledge of the more than 1,200 physicians and scientists at the Mayo Clinic.
ONCOLINK http://cancer.med.upenn.edu
OncoLink is the first multimedia oncology information resource placed on the Internet. It was established to disseminate information relevant to the field of oncology; educate health care personnel; educate patients, families and other interested parties; and to provide a rapid collection of information pertinent to the specialty.
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