Health Online:
Finding Information You Can Trust
LET'S
LEARN
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Searching for health information that can be trusted
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How to read a webpage – finding quick facts and key points
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How to tell if the information you found is from a good source
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Finding websites in other languages
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Differences between using a computer or mobile device
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Local places to use the internet
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Using other online resources for your health
Remember: Information found on ANY website does NOT replace the advice of medical professionals!
Common Web Terms
URL
Browser
Social Media
Spam
Search bar
Domain
Scroll
Hyperlink
.com
.edu
.org
.gov
How can using online resources for health be helpful?
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Find information quickly
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Check your health symptoms
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Research diseases
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Communicate with your doctor or nurse
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Look for wellness tips
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Track your health conditions
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Much more...
Search for health information
Different search tools:
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Search engines
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Search bars on websites
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Search tools for privacy
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Google Chrome Incognito Browser
Tips for doing a search:
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List multiple symptoms
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Use full disease name
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Be gender specific
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Be age specific
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Limit abbreviations
#1. You just saw the doctor about your symptoms. They told you it sounds like an upper respiratory infection. You are given papers before you leave, called an after visit summary. You want to learn more about your diagnoses. On the papers you see the following words:
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upper respiratory infection
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cold
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URI
Using a search engine, search the words listed above. What differences do you see from your search results?
Try a search:
Websites to visit for health information
What about Wikipedia?
Can be an okay source to get a general idea, but you should do more research.
Information on the site can change at anytime by anyone in the world. Wikipedia has paid workers who review edits and correct if edits are false.
Websites to search for recommendations
You may be looking for a new doctor, caregiver, health insurance or need to find another service. Here are websites that show reviews, customer feedback, and finder tools:
Evaluate sources
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
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Who is providing the information?
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Why did they create the website?
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Who is the website for? And what do they want from you?
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Where do facts and figures come from?
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Do they want personal information? If so, what will they do with it?
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Who is paying for the website?
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Is the information up-to-date?
Evaluate a website
Use checklist provided to evaluate the website www.familydoctor.org.
How to read a webpage
Scanning makes for a quick and easier way to find what you are looking for.
Scanning tips:
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Start with bigger, bolder words
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Read left to right
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Use left tool bar and top menu bar to find topics
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Read content before clicking on hyperlink
When scanning search results:
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Scan multiple results, not only the top two results
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If you don’t find what you want, start over with new words in search box. Don’t continue to add words to what you already searched.
Credibility
Proof that information is reliable and from a trusted source.
Ways to find credibility:
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Look at "About Us" section of the site
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Look for unbiased research
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Check bottom of webpage for dates, sponsors, crediting, and other details
Domain differences
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.com - most likely owned by commercial business
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.gov - government owned website
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.org - most likely owned by non-profit organization
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.edu - owned by school
Compare websites for credibility:
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Credible things to look for:
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medical providers writing articles about topics in their practice
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contact information
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clear, straight forward information - does not hide any information
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content reviewed by a medical professional (MD, DO, PhD, RN)
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evidence-based - based on credible research findings
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privacy policy
Be cautious of:
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certain brand names or products being credited - may be trying to sell you on something
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content reviewed by “medical experts”
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opinion-based - based on someone's opinion
How to tell if information is good or harmful
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Basic consumer health information – less technical terminology, good starting points
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For people living in Wisconsin:
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Advanced information for medical professionals or health learners – moderately technical terminology, more detailed
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Medical research and journals – very technical terminology, used in medical and academic settings, often not available to public, cost to access
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med.wisc.edu/research
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Websites with multiple languages
Differences between using a computer or mobile device
Computers, tablets and phones can be used to access online information and resources. You may prefer one over the other. Here are some options to consider:
Mobile device (phone or tablet):
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smaller screen
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less visuals and text
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drop-down icon
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easier to access and take with you
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takes longer to scroll through information
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may lose track of place on webpage when clicking on new pages or hyperlinks
Computer device (desktop or laptop):
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larger screen
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full page views making it easier to see more information at a time
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more navigation tools and tabbed selection bar
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usually more visuals and information
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easier to search and scroll through information on webpage
Local places to use the internet
Internet is not always available or reliable, especially in rural areas.
Mobile devices can help if...
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you do not have Wi-Fi but have smart-phone data. Phone data can be used to access the internet.
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you visit a local cafe or business that offers free Wi-Fi.
Places to use a computer:
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Library
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Hospital
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County health departments
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Community centers or senior centers
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Schools (for students)
Other online resources
Ask Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant about a health question – it is like searching “Google”
Health portals through healthcare providers:
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After visit summaries
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Medications
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Communication with providers
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Prescription requests
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Health news
Wearables: track your health vitals, such as heart rate, steps walked or run, sleep pattern, diet
Apps: provides online health resources for mobile devices
Examples:
Sign-up for health newsletter
Looking for a printed or e-mail version of information?
Sign up for reliable health news by subscribing to newsletters from credible websites
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Some are free
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Can be age and gender specific
