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Consumer Health Online ... Not One Size Fits All
The document provides a comprehensive overview of online resources for consumer health information, highlighting various websites that cater to the diverse needs of health care consumers. It emphasizes that individuals have unique information requirements based on their medical histories and outlines resources such as MedlinePlus, Healthfinder, and KidsHealth, among others. The text also addresses common questions patients may have about seeking medical information and emphasizes the importance of reliable online sources.
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Consumer Health Online ... Not One Size Fits All
- 1. CONSUMER HEALTH ONLINEPatricia F. Anderson / Perplexity Peccable <[email protected]> Health Sciences Libraries, University of Michigan © 2009 Regents of the University of Michigan. This work is subject to a Creative Commons license.
- 2. Not One SizeFits All Health care consumers are individuals, with unique information skills and needs as well as unique medical histories. Online consumer health information has evolved (and continues to change!) to address the variety and range of questions. Here are some of the wonderful but sometimes less well known consumer health resources available free on the Web.
- 3. Some Favorites Logosmontage: FamilyDoctor, KidsHealth, healthfinder. Medem, NORD, MedlinePlus, Merck Manual, MedHelp, Netwellness
- 4. URLs for Someof the Best AAFP: Family Doctor: http://familydoctor.org/ healthfinder: http://www.healthfinder.gov/ Kidshealth: http://www.kidshealth.org/ Med Help International: http://www.medhelp.org/GettingStarted.htm Medem.com: http://medem.com/MedLB/medlib_entry.cfm MedlinePlus: http://www.medlineplus.gov/ Merck Manual of Medical Information - Home Edition: http://www.merck.com/mmhe/index.html National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD): http://www.rarediseases.org/ Netwellness: http://netwellness.org/
- 5. Question: DoI need to see the doctor? Is it OK to wait a while, or should I come in right away?
- 6. FamilyDoctor: AAFP:Family Doctor: http://familydoctor.org/
- 7. FamilyDoctor: Searchby Symptom AAFP: Family Doctor: http://familydoctor.org/
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- 9. healthfinder – Online Checkups Collection healthfinder: http://www.healthfinder.gov/
- 10. Merck Manual -A Standard Quick Reference Tool http://www.merck.com/mmhe/index.html
- 11. Question: Idid a search in Google, but there is so much to look at! I don’t know where to start.
- 12. MedlinePlus Forthe person with a new diagnosis Or the person who is new to health information searching MedlinePlus: http://www.medlineplus.gov/
- 13. MedlinePlus MedlinePlus:http://www.medlineplus.gov/
- 14. Question: I likemy doctor to tell me what’s best. I don’t want to have to look hard. Can’t you just help me?
- 15. Medem -From Major Associations Medem.com: http://medem.com/MedLB/medlib_entry.cfm
- 16. Medem -From Major Associations American Academy of Ophthalmology American Academy of Pediatrics American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists American Medical Association American Psychiatric Association American Society of Plastic Surgeons … and many more …
- 17. MedlinePlus - Forthe Patient with a New Diagnosis MedlinePlus: http://www.medlineplus.gov/
- 18. Question: This isn’ta big deal -- I just want to know what some of these words mean. I didn’t want to bother you by asking. Or could you show me a picture? I don’t really understand where in my body this is .
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- 21. MedlinePlus MedlinePlus:http://www.medlineplus.gov/
- 22. Question: Ilooked at some of the sites that were recommended, but they were too simple -- I want more. Maybe not too much more, though. Or …
- 23. Question: I liketo find my own information. I don’t like people to make up my mind for me. But I don’t want to waste time -- I want to find some good stuff quickly.
- 24. healthfinder - SpecializedConsumer Health Search Tool healthfinder: http://www.healthfinder.gov/
- 25. healthfinder - SpecializedConsumer Health Search Tool “ Search consumer health information using Google technology for the most relevant search results. This special search features information selected from over 300 U.S. government Web sites and 600 nonprofit organizations .”
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- 27. Question: I’mgoing to be having a procedure done. The handouts the clinic gave me are fine, but I’m a little nervous and I’d really like to see a video or talk with someone who has had this done.
- 28. MedlinePlus - InteractiveTutorials & Surgery Videos MedlinePlus: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorial.html
- 29. MedlinePlus - InteractiveTutorials & Surgery Videos MedlinePlus: Interactive Tutorial: Mammogram: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/mammogram/htm/index.htm
- 30. American Self-Help Clearinghousehttp://www.selfhelpgroups.org/ OR http://mentalhelp.net/selfhelp/
- 31. ACOR Association ofCancer Online Resources: http://acor.org
- 32. Question: I wanta second opinion, but I don’t want my doctor to think I don’t trust him. I just want to feel more sure, understand better, and not take up all his time. It might take me a while to really understand all this.
- 33. MedHelp - WhenThere are More Questions Med Help International: http://www.medhelp.org/GettingStarted.htm
- 34. MedHelp - WhenThere are More Questions Med Help International: Partners: http://www.medhelp.org/medical_partners.htm American Academy of Opthalmology Cleveland Clinic Cornell University Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International National Jewish Medical and Research Center Partners HealthCare USF Health
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- 36. Question: It’s notme -- it’s my kid. I can’t figure out how to explain to him what’s happening.
- 37. KidsHealth - ForParents, Teens, and Kids Kidshealth: http://www.kidshealth.org/
- 38. American Academy ofPediatrics http://www.aap.org/topics.html
- 39. Kids.gov: Health Kids.gov:Health: http://www.kids.gov/k_health.htm
- 40. Question: When possible,I like to avoid drugs. I use mostly herbs and alternative or complementary treatments. I heard that some of these can interfere with the drugs you’ve prescribed. How can I learn more?
- 41. About Herbs (MSKCC)MSKCC: About Herbs: http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/11570.cfm
- 42. MD Anderson: CIMERMD Anderson: CIMER: http://www.mdanderson.org/departments/cimer/
- 43. MD Anderson: CIMERMD Anderson: CIMER: http://www.mdanderson.org/departments/cimer/ Reviews of Therapy
- 44. Question: You knowthat what’s wrong with me isn’t something that is easy to understand or that turns up with a quick search. I already tried that. You folks are great, but I want to talk to some other people like me or find information beyond what you’ve given me. Isn’t there some place I can start?
- 45. NORD - ForRare Diseases or Uncommon Health Concerns National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD): http://www.rarediseases.org/
- 46. Question: I heardabout a treatment for my condition in the news. What’s the scoop on that? (IE: What is the latest information on omega 3 fatty acids for mental health treatment?)
- 47. ScienceDaily: Health ScienceDaily:Health: http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/
- 48. Question: I wantto know everything possible. How would you look for information on this? Where would you go? --> These days many people search PubMed.gov, Guidelines.gov, eMedicine, ClinicalTrials.gov and other resources intended primarily for the practicing clinician. How these are or are not integrated into the patient-practitioner relationship must be a matter of judgment related to the particular situation in which the question arises.
- 49. Other Questions? Contact your local library