Finding Accurate Information

When I sit down in front of my computer, I feel like a child locked in the Library of Congress with all the information in the world at my fingertips and no card catalog.

According to an article posted on Health Oasis site of Mayo Clinic, in 1997 there were an estimated 12,000 health-related web sites. In 1999, there must be twice as many. Have you visited a major search engine, typed in “thyroid” and hit the search button lately? A recent search yielded over 72,000 pages.

How do you decide which pages to visit? Which pages give you good information and which are just someone’s opinions? What medical advice is good to follow and which could be harmful?

First, visit reliable sites. Look for names that you know like National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health, Center for Disease Control, Mayo Clinic and other well-known universities and health centers. Start with the medical sites linked to your search engine or web database.

Look for recent material. New research is published frequently in medicine. The right treatment three years ago or even last year may be outdated today. Always check the source of any material. Compare results from different sources and look for those that are similar in their reports. Check the credentials of the author. Is he or she a medical professional?

The Health on the Net Foundation has established a Code of Conduct. Sites displaying the HON logo have agreed to abide by this code. For example, the site must publish information from medical professionals. The HON code doesn’t guarantee that all the information published is accurate but it does show that it is from scientifically reliable sources.

To narrow your search, use words like “and”, “or”, and “not”. For instance, typing “thyroid and Graves’ disease” would yield sites containing both words. Typing “thyroid or Graves’ disease” yields sites listing one or the other. Typing “thyroid not Graves’ disease” yields sites containing the word thyroid but not Graves’ disease. Some search engines use commas and + signs. When in doubt, read the directions.

The Internet is an excellent source for education on whatever topic that you choose. But, remember that anyone can post a web page and share any information on any topic. It is the ultimate arena for free speech. That is a double-edged sword. The responsibility to determine the accuracy of the information is up to you. Weigh it carefully, as the old saying goes “take it with a grain of salt”. Ask your health care provider for his opinion based on your personal needs.

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