We know you want reliable info about the medical conditions that impact you. That’s why we’ve put info about the medical issues that many students deal with in college on our website. We also included reliable sites to find more information.
Reliable sites for general health information:
- National Institutes of Health, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
- Family Doctor, http://familydoctor.org/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/
- Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.com/
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, http://www.healthfinder.gov/
Finding more info online:
You can search for health info online. But be thoughtful about it! Use these strategies to help you recognize reliable online health articles:
- Consider the source. Sites maintained by professional medical organizations, medical schools and major disease-specific nonprofit organizations are generally trustworthy.
- Check credentials.
- Be sure the authors are identified by name, credentials and institution and that information is given by qualified health professionals, unless clearly stated otherwise.
- Read the description of the purpose of the sponsoring organization.
- Search for a statement of the sources of funding of the site.
- Be sure you can tell the advertising from editorial and information content. Look for a description of the site’s advertising policy.
- Check for the date of information. Medical information Is outdated quickly.
- Check the site for a statement on protecting your confidentiality regarding personal medical information, patterns of use and interests, etc.
- Look for mailing addresses and telephone numbers of the organization, in addition to an email address. Can you find the Webmaster’s email address easily throughout the site.
- Find their source. Check for clear documentation of the original source of the information.
- Be alert.
- Watch for bias in the way information is presented.
- Be sure online shopping is clearly separated from editorial and information content.
- If you have to register, know how your personal information will be used.
- Don’t trust a site willing to give you a virtual diagnosis.
- Make sure the information in the site is designed to support and not replace your relationship with your health care provider.
- If you think something seems odd, it probably is.