Date post: | 05-Jul-2015 |
Category: |
Health & Medicine |
Upload: | patientsafetyalliance |
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INTERNET FOR AUTHENTIC MEDICAL INFORMATION
Vasumathi SriganeshQMed Knowledge Foundation
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT…..
SO…
• What do we believe?• How many pages of search results do
we go through?
USING INTERNET RESOURCES
Requires a very structured approach
STRUCTURED APPROACH
Learn:
• “About” resources
• How to search correctly and/or consult librarians / specialists
• How to understand research results and consult health professionals
• Accept limitations of research results and methods and make correct personal decisions
ABOUT RESOURCES
First – Authenticity• Who is responsible for the website / resource?• Is it updated regularly / is the information current?• Purpose of the site - is there scope for bias?• Site organization – is it easy to find what you need
RESPONSIBILITY
Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/webeval/webeval_start.html
EVALUATING…
“About Us”
• PABH: Doctors & Cardiologists; mission – to educate public; contact details provided
• IHH: “Select group of individuals and businesses concerned with heart health. – Site supported by a company that produces vitamins and other medications
– Link for buying medicines
– Contact details – only “webmaster”
ABOUT RESOURCES
Categorize them… and understand where to go
THREE CATEGORIES
Medical Information Resources – three main categories
• Background information / Factual information
• Results of all “reported research”– What works– What does not work– We don’t know yet
• Reported research– In labs– On people
• (Large studies)
WEBSITES
Can be
• Single type
• Combination types
Learn to identify what type of information each website provides!
MEDLINEPLUS.GOV
RESULTS OF RESEARCH
• Cochrane Summaries
• PubMed Health
summaries.cochrane.org
COCHRANE COLLABORATION
• Experts from different medical fields
– Eg: “Pregnancy and childbirth group”
ALSO:
• Cochrane Consumer Network
http://consumers.cochrane.org/
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/
SEARCHING
Searching correctly: Research Articles
www.pubmed.gov
(Database of 20 million journal articles)
TAKE HOME MESSAGE
• Searching is a structured art and science
• Know where to go
– Authentic resources – updated regularly
• Search correctly
• Evidence may/may not exist
• Take your decision with your doctor, based on “best available evidence”
QMED KNOWLEDGE FOUNDATION
• Conducts programs on correct searching for health professionals
• Developing plans to help consumers, with the help of doctors
• People involved
– Librarians specialized in medical information management
– Trustees – two doctors
BECOME A FRIEND OF QMED
QMED KNOWLEDGE FOUNDATION
www.qmedkf.org.in
facebook.com/qmedkf
www.indianmedicalsites.in