2. DO SHARE WITH US…
• How many of you do use the Internet to seek health
information?
• What is your approach when you search?
3. TODAY’S TALK – FOUR PARTS
• Background / scope / importance of searching
correctly
• Types of information resources
• Examples of very important resources
• Foundational principles of searching
4. PART I - BACKGROUND
• Context
• Right kinds of resources – the importance
• Searching – what is right and wrong
5. WHEN DO WE NEED HEALTH
INFORMATION?
• “Health” related queries – “Are bananas good for our
health”?
• “Condition” related queries – Pregnancy, Bringing up
kids, Posture, Obesity…
• “Disease” related queries – Back pain, Diabetes,
Cancer…
6. WE NEED TO
• Understand diseases / conditions
• Find professionals / institutions
• Make the right decision
8. ABOUT RESOURCES
Authenticity
• Who is responsible for the resource / website?
Recency
• Is it updated regularly / is the information current?
Purpose
• Purpose of the resource / site - is there scope for
bias?
Organization
• Organization of the resource / site – is it easy to find
what you need
10. 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”
17. STEP BY STEP APPROACH
Learn:
• “About” resources
• How to search correctly and/or consult
librarians / specialists
• How to understand research results and consult health
professionals
• To….Accept limitations of research results and
methods and make correct personal decisions
20. 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)
21. WEBSITES
Can be
• Single type
• Combination types
Learn to identify what type of information
each website provides!
44. SEARCHING CORRECTLY
• Word search – presence of the word
• Field search – Where do you want your word to be?
• Combinations: AND, OR, NOT
46. 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”
47. 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
48. REAL LIFE STORIES
• HELP – Doctor – son – rare condition
…my son had a rare disease- agenesis of corpus
callosum. Your information helped me a lot. Taking the
cue, I went to Boston to meet someone who ran a
NGO on this disease. I still receive a newsletter from
that group. Now my son works in _____All thanks to
you.
49. REAL LIFE STORIES
• Family friend – rare disease
….The entire credit of my miraculous recovery from a
seemingly incurable disorder, goes to my visit to your
place, when I came to know about pubmed!! I am
trying my bit, to spread awareness about the cure …..
51. HOW WE CAN HELP YOU
• Fact sheet – now
• Searching for specific needs
– “I am 37 and wish to have a baby now. How safe is it”
– “My doctor has given a choice of two chemotherapy drugs for my
mother. How do I choose”
– Consulting sessions to help you
• Search and discuss with your doctor – but NOT
• Medical advice – which your doctor will give you
52. QMED IS
• A not for profit Trust
• No government or agency funding
• We crowdsource funds and ask for donations for any
professional help we provide
53. QMED KNOWLEDGE FOUNDATION
Helping patients & their caregivers to seek
reliable information and participate
responsibly in health care decisions