Useful Websites

I have not spent any time on any of these sites, but here is a quick rundown of the 3 resources we were given in class today. They are trustworthy, reliable and useful. I would make these websites your first stop when trying to find health information online.

I plan to explore these sites and then I'll comment more specifically on what each has to offer. Feel free to share your thoughts or tips for using these resources as well!

MedlinePlus - (from their "About" section) MedlinePlus is the National Institutes of Health's Web site for patients and their families and friends. Produced by the National Library of Medicine, it brings you information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in language you can understand. MedlinePlus offers reliable, up-to-date health information, anytime, anywhere, for free.

You can use MedlinePlus to learn about the latest treatments, look up information on a drug or supplement, find out the meanings of words, or view medical videos or illustrations. You can also get links to the latest medical research on your topic or find out about clinical trials on a disease or condition.

HONcode - The Health On the Net Foundation (HON) promotes and guides the deployment of useful and reliable online health information, and its appropriate and efficient use. Created in 1995, HON is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, accredited to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. For twelve years, HON has focused on the essential question of the provision of health information to citizens, information that respects ethical standards. To cope with the unprecedented volume of healthcare information available on the Net, the HONcode of conduct offers a multi-stakeholder consensus on standards to protect citizens from misleading health information. (from their website)

National Guideline Clearinghouse - NGC is a public resource for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines