Her husband was losing his appetite and generally feeling lethargic. It finally got so bad that he went to his doctor who discovered that his blood platelet count was dangerously low. The medical tests to figure out the cause of the drop are on-going, but in the meantime, my friend, who’s a savvy computer user, wants to hop on-line to do some research.
Whether you’re using the Internet to find out about an aging parent’s chronic condition, or a new diagnosis, the problem is that along with all the excellent information for lay people like us, there’s just a whole bunch of dangerous junk out there, too.
Here’s the advice I gave my friend about judging the quality of information on a medical website. There is more about this in my Blueprint for Caregiving series. See www.blueprintforcaregiving.com .
- Check the source, and ask questions. Is it associated with a university or government institution such as the National Institutes of Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention? Is it a recognized organization such as the American Lung Association? Be wary of sites sponsored by sound-alike organizations. Read the “About Us” page. Is it a tax-exempt, non-profit? Who are the members of its board of directors? Is it a one-person site where the source of the information and the “organization” behind it are the same? If that’s the case, be wary of the information.
- Look for a seal of approval. There are two organizations that will certify medical information websites. Lack of accreditation by either doesn’t mean that the information isn’t good, but it should raise a warning flag. They are Health on the Net (HON, www.hon.ch , a Swiss non-profit) and URAC (www.urac.org, formerly the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission, headquartered in Washington, D.C.) When you see either seal on a website, you know it measures up to high standards of privacy, security and responsibility.
- If you’re looking at a study that suggests a mode of treatment, check the timeliness of the study. Many ground-breaking studies of a decade—or even five years ago-- have been refined or even disqualified by subsequent studies.
- Look at sponsorship of the site. Large drug companies or law firms sponsor seemingly objective sites that subtly or not-so-subtly tout their products and services. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if you know a site is sponsored—and not all clearly indicate their sponsorship—then you are in a better position to assess the information you’re being given.
- Be wary of registering on sites with your parent’s health information. I know it’s a pain, but do read the privacy policy posted on the site before registering. If there’s no privacy policy spelled out DO NOT give any personal information. Some of the sites make money by selling the information that they gather. Some charge a fee for registration. Look—and that means read—before you leap in with personal information.
You can find plenty of information on the web that is going to help you in your caregiving to your elderly loved one. All you need to do is pay attention to the source of the information.
Blessings, Joanne
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