Click here for Healthcare - clinics online

Black Enterprise, August, 2001 by Rebecca Rohan

USE THE INTERNET TO ARM YOURSELF WITH THE BEST MEDICAL INFORMATION

WE'RE A LONG WAY FROM DIGITAL DOCTORS LIKE STAR TREK: VOYAGER'S HOLOGRAM HEALER, but there's already a small galaxy of Websites that offer free medical and health information to consumers. These sites provide news you can use to make smart health choices, information about illnesses and treatments, links to support groups, and expert information. Although the sites aren't intended to--and should not--replace the advice and care of a real doctor, they can help you become better educated about your healthcare needs.

Good health sites can arm you with solid information and prepare you with great questions for your next visit to the doctor. But health information dispensed from the Web requires a dose of "healthy skepticism," says Dr. Charlotte E. Grayson, senior medical editor for WebMD (www.webmd.net). "When people go to a healthcare Website, often they've just been diagnosed with a condition--or a family member has," says Grayson. That makes the site a valuable and deeply personal tool, but it must be used prudently. Grayson says there are five questions to ask when evaluating information on a site:

1. Who is posting the information? Look for reputable sources with an excellent reputation in the field, such as WebMD, the National Institutes of Health, and other government agencies.

2. Who is sponsoring the site? Some sites have content sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. A reputable site will disclose this information. If the source isn't indicated, you should move on.

3. Who is developing the content? You can usually find this in a Who We Are or About Us link. There should be advisory board members or a news staff with years of experience or medical credentials. It's important that a site has physicians on staff when providing information.

If the site has a chat room or newsgroup, this can also provide opportunities to form a virtual support group with others in a similar situation. But remember: Experts should moderate these discussions so misinformation won't be disseminated.

4. When was the material last updated? Medical information changes frequently. Check the dates to make sure the site is keeping abreast of the latest research.

5. Are claims documented? If an article claims a particular drug is good for an illness, find out who is saying it. Reputable sites require that the information come from reliable sources such as solid research and clinical trials.

WHAT NEXT?

Once you've found a good site, make the most of it. "I always recommend that people take the information they pull off the Internet, print it out, and take it to their healthcare provider. That's the only way they can both be on the same page," says Grayson. "It helps the doctors, too; [they] know you're interested in being a partner in your care."

There are many general health sites on the Web offering a variety of information. Finding one that meets all of your needs can be tough; so we've combed the Web to bring you a few. Here are 10 sites to help you stay healthy.

Black Health Network

The Black Health Network is a good site with an African American focus. No digging through a general-interest site for the information you need. The site provides a wealth of information, from commentary by the secretary of health and human services on state insurance for children to articles about cardiovascular disease in African Americans to food safety during cookouts (just in time for summer barbecues). After linking to Minority Health Issues for You and Your Family, you'll find links to topics ranging from arthritis to tendinitis, and more. And with almost every topic comes an explanation of its relevance to African Americans.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

CBS HealthWatch.com

Fresh, engaging articles make CBS HealthWatch.com a lively place. Forty-six health channels on different topics, such as heart health, depression, and men's health, give it a solid foundation. The Multicultural Health channel includes reports such as High Blood Pressure in African American Women, Diabetes and African American Health, and African Americans and Tobacco. The site also features a Drug Directory, a Medical Dictionary, and a Test Handbook, which finally explains what all those tests are for and what the results mean. You can also learn about clinical trials in your geographic area by topic and sign up for the free newsletter, Mousecalls.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Centers for Disease Control

The Centers for Disease Control site has the flavor and impact of a public health site, rather than a consumer magazine. You'll find information for travelers, statistical data, and information on diseases such as tuberculosis from a public health perspective rather than an individual's. This is an important site for those studying health issues as they relate to the population--or to a particular population--because it provides data on topics such as access to health coverage by race. The CDC site also contains the section Current Health Related Hoaxes and Rumors, which debunks reports such as "Hantavirus Spread by Contact With Soda Cans or Groovy Packages." Sometimes your tax dollars do work.