Experts Evaluate Internet As Source Of Health Information
By Rachel Bowers, Electric Co-op TODAY

Last year, 60 million people searched the Internet for health information, according to a recent study conducted by Louis Harris Associates, a consumer research consulting firm. A panel convened by the federal government has issued a model template to help consumers and health professionals evaluate such health care related Web sites, in response to this growing popularity of the Internet as a source of health care information.

The panel found many advantages to the World Wide Web as a source of health care information. These include its ability to provide information tailored to the specific needs of patients, its function as a neutral forum allowing patients to discuss sensitive problems and issues without the fear of embarrassment or discrimination, and the immediate and constant availability of information.

However, the Web presents a real potential for harm, panel members found. According to the panel’s findings, sites may contain false information that could lead patients to delay a search for critical medical treatment. Or, the Internet might provide misleading information that could break down trust between patients and health care providers.

Another concern is that personal information might not be kept confidential. Confidentiality issues are a major concern to many segments of the population and have prompted organizations to adopt polices geared toward keeping consumer information private. For example, NRECA’s Consumer Bill of Rights says that information about consumers will not be released without their prior consent.

The model template is divided into four sections of questions aimed to disclose the source, funding and purpose of the Web site; measure the reliability of the site’s content; reveal the results of other site evaluations; and identify potential biases or conflicts of interest related to those evaluations.

The panel’s Web site provides links to reputable health search engines, reliable medical journals on the Internet, and other sites dealing with the issue of health-related Web site evaluation. There is a direct link to the Department of Health and Human Services’ site, "Healthfinder®," which serves as a source for a variety of health information dealing with topics such as AIDS research, alternative medicine and Medicare.

Visit http://www.health.gov/scipich to read more about the panel and its findings. The HHS Healthfinder site can be found at www.healthfinder.gov