Showing papers in "Health Care on the Internet archive in 2000"
559 citations
25 citations
TL;DR: The most useful sites in the following categories: medical megasites-huge repositories of health information for consumers; pregnancy and parenting sites; and pediatric sites; plus specialized sites on infertility, locating a practitioner, prenatal testing, pregnancy complications, breastfeeding, postpartum depression, pregnancy loss, and more.
Abstract: Having a baby is one of life's greatest changes, causing even the most knowledgeable health care consumers to ask many questions about pregnancy, birth, and infant health. The Internet offers many resources for prospective and new parents from many different types of sites. This article describes the most useful sites in the following categories: medical megasites-huge repositories of health information for consumers; pregnancy and parenting sites; and pediatric sites; plus specialized sites on infertility, locating a practitioner, prenatal testing, pregnancy complications, breastfeeding, postpartum depression, pregnancy loss, and more.
6 citations
TL;DR: The discussion will illustrate the distinctive features of NOAH's content, organization, and selection, and will examine various search techniques and tips.
Abstract: As consumers increasingly look to the Internet to find answers to their health-related questions, NOAH-the New York Online Access to Health, has been connecting visitors to reliable, relevant, and bilingual (English and Spanish) online resources since 1995. This unique Internet pathfinder is the result of a grass-roots, New York City library-based partnership formed in 1994. NOAH is distinguished by its community-focused philosophy and user-friendly search capability. The general public can quickly link to quality filtered, full-text, accurate, and authoritative information. The discussion will illustrate the distinctive features of NOAH's content, organization, and selection, and will examine various search techniques and tips. NOAH can be reached at .
4 citations
4 citations
TL;DR: Some of the finest pet therapy Web sites are described and brief instruction on effective searching for more information on the various forms of pet therapy is provided.
Abstract: Pet therapy programs are being implemented in U.S. hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, and rehabilitation facilities at an ever increasing rate. The World-Wide Web is a rich source of valid information on the various forms of pet therapy, which include: visitation programs, assistance dogs, and therapeutic riding among many other variants. This article describes some of the finest pet therapy Web sites and provides brief instruction on effective searching for more information.
3 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide guidelines for evaluating online databases of pharmaceutical information and lists and compare some of the most comprehensive and useful sites in this area, which can leave both medical professionals and patients overwhelmed and unsure about which site best meets their needs.
Abstract: A wealth of information about specific drugs can be found in the many pharmaceutical databases on the World Wide Web. However, the abundance of available choices and the variability of content and quality can leave both medical professionals and patients overwhelmed and unsure about which site best meets their needs. This article provides guidelines for evaluating online databases of pharmaceutical information and lists and compares some of the most comprehensive and useful sites in this area.
3 citations
TL;DR: A listing of selected, annotated Web resources of particular interest to women with diabetes, which provide ready access to diabetes-related resources and can serve as a valuable tool in diabetes self-care.
Abstract: Diabetes has been identified as a priority health issue for women and is a serious chronic condition that occurs more frequently in women than in men, Diabetes brings with it unique concerns for women at all stages in the life span. The woman with diabetes must take an active role in her own diabetes management and needs access to reliable, accurate, and useful diabetes-related information. The World Wide Web provides ready access to diabetes-related resources, and when properly used, can serve as a valuable tool in diabetes self-care. This article provides a listing of selected, annotated Web resources of particular interest to women with diabetes.
2 citations
TL;DR: New York Online Access to Health (NOAH) as discussed by the authors is an authoritative bilingual health information resource developed in 1995 by four New York City partners: The City University of New York, The Metropolitan Library Council, The New York Academy of Medicine, and the New York Public Library.
Abstract: New York Online Access to Health (NOAH) is an authoritative bilingual health information resource developed in 1995 by four New York City partners: The City University of New York, The Metropolitan Library Council, The New York Academy of Medicine, and The New York Public Library. NOAH's mission is to provide high-quality full-text information for consumers that is accurate, timely, relevant, and unbiased. This paper discusses NOAH's Women's Health page, how it is arranged for easy access, the selection process for adding content, and the criteria used to evaluate documents and links. NOAH can be found at www.noah.cuny.edu
2 citations
TL;DR: The purpose of this article is to collect quality WWW sites focusing on Alzheimer's disease to help increase the users' awareness of Alzheimer's Disease and to help consumers understand what to expect and where to find information.
Abstract: Better informed and educated consumers can improve the patient/health care professional communication process and allow full participation in decision making about one's own health. Web sites have become the popular means of obtaining consumer health information. Consumers, however, face the task of selecting from thousands of choices over the World Wide Web (WWW). The purpose of this article is to collect quality WWW sites focusing on Alzheimer's disease. Accepted evaluation criteria were used to select each WWW site. These selected Web sites are provided to help increase the users' awareness of Alzheimer's disease and to help consumers understand what to expect and where to find information. All Web sites included are for informational and educational purposes only. They will never replace visits to physicians. Consumers and patients will always have to consult with physicians and other health professionals for their health care.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of studies and tools for Web site evaluation is presented, followed by a core list of women's health Web sites, from the perspective of the academic health sciences library.
Abstract: This article, in two parts, presents information on the evaluation of Web sites in general and the choice of women's health Web sites in particular. A review of studies and tools for Web site evaluation is followed by a core list of women's health Web sites, from the perspective of the academic health sciences library.
TL;DR: The public health sites located at nine of the nation's most prestigious schools of public health are the focus of this article and offer a gateway to a wealth of substantive public health information.
Abstract: The public health sites located at nine of the nation's most prestigious schools of public health are the focus of this article. Librarians and academic program personnel have developed most of the sites. For the Internet user attempting to determine what the World-Wide Web has available on the subject of public health, academic sites are the ideal place to begin because their content is more likely to be authoritative and reliable. These Web sites offer a gateway to a wealth of substantive public health information.
TL;DR: The authors describes selected Web sites devoted to the subject of women's health, mentions notable metasites developed by several medical libraries, showcases specific resources (answer services, search engines/directories, metasearch engines, and search voyeurs) for finding information, and discusses criteria for evaluating and critically examining Web sites.
Abstract: Despite the breadth, depth, and volume of information available on the Web, it can be tedious and time-consuming to locate and retrieve meaningful and reliable health content. This article describes selected Web sites devoted to the subject of women's health, mentions notable metasites developed by several medical libraries, showcases specific resources (answer services, search engines/directories, metasearch engines, and search voyeurs) for finding information, and discusses criteria for evaluating and critically examining Web sites.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors highlight some demographics and results of key research, then focus on qualitative online resources for women over age 25 that are related to women's health and physical fitness.
Abstract: Although the promotion of health, sports, and physical fitness are pervasive themes as well as part of federal U.S. policy, women lag behind their male counterparts in the areas of health and physical fitness. And, although there is a general trend toward increased participation of women in sports and physical activity across a life span, a large number of women promise like Scarlett O'Hara to “think about it tomorrow.” This article highlights some demographics and results of key research, then focuses on qualitative online resources for women over age 25 that are related to women's health and physical fitness. Definition problems exist, but the terms sports and physical fitness are used interchangeably. There are several challenges in locating quality Web sources related to women, health, and sports/physical fitness. A major one is the need to “surf” from many subject areas. The print and electronic resources that are highlighted all reflect the truly diverse nature of the available materials-ev...
TL;DR: Multiple sclerosis is a debilitating autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system that has no known cause and is difficult to diagnose because many symptoms of MS are common to other disorders.
Abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. In MS the myelin sheath, or insulation, that surrounds the nerves is damaged or scarred, affecting the nerves of the eye, brain, and/or spinal cord. MS has no known cause and is difficult to diagnose because many symptoms of MS are common to other disorders. Between 250,000 and 350,000 people in the United States have been formally diagnosed with MS, including such well-known persons as comedian Richard Pryor, writer Michael Crich-ton, actress Annette Funicello, and singer Lena Home. This article discusses selected MS resources available on the Internet.
TL;DR: A selective review of Web sites that offer information on the quality of health services delivered by specific physicians and facilities in the United States.
Abstract: Health care consumers often need information about the quality of health services provided by specific facilities and health professionals. A growing number of Web sites are meeting consumers' needs for quality-related information. These sites offer a wide array of information, ranging from traditional directory information to comparative data and records of personal experiences. This paper provides a selective review of Web sites that offer information on the quality of health services delivered by specific physicians and facilities in the United States.
TL;DR: This article will explore search strategies for locating quality acupuncture practitioner information and compare some of the sites.
Abstract: Many alternative medicine sites include clickable buttons for linking to information about acupuncture practitioners. There is wide variation in the number of practitioners listed at the sites, in the search capabilities provided for locating this information, and in the scope of the information provided for the individual practitioner listings. Searching for this kind of information is complicated because sites may include multiple modalities of alternative medicine or specialize in a particular modality. This article will explore search strategies for locating quality acupuncture practitioner information and compare some of the sites. When looking for the quality or credentials of a practitioner, it is important to note that there are many variables to consider. One would be the state requirements for licensing practitioners. It was impossible to find a site that listed the state licensing requirements with contacts and/or links for state offices. There were several listings of states that had requirements. The National Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance (NAOMA) has a list of states with statutes, regulations, and bills in progress, but it is dated November 1998. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) site lists 33 states and the District of Columbia that have NCCAOM Certification as an integral part of their acupuncture licensure protocol, and three states that have practice acts that don’t specify NCCAOM as of June 1999. It is important to note that there are two competing groups of practitioners in the United States: those who are medical doctors and
TL;DR: This article examines two Internet sites, drkoop.com and Ask Dr. Weil, provides some background material on the two physicians for whom the sites are named and who contribute to the sites, analyzes some of the data available, discusses economic considerations, and makes several recommendations for consumers.
Abstract: With the explosion of medical and health care advice available on the Internet, and the enormous variety of different sites emerging almost daily on the World Wide Web, it has become more and more difficult to judge the quality and validity of information. This article examines two Internet sites, drkoop.com and Ask Dr. Weil , provides some background material on the two physicians for whom the sites are named and who contribute to the sites, analyzes some of the data available on each site, discusses economic considerations, and makes several recommendations for consumers.
TL;DR: The authors discuss the increasing trends of usage of the Internet and alternative medicine, and the possible dangerous outcomes of the inappropriate use of alternative medicine.
Abstract: The Internet has rapidly changed the way health care related products and services are being marketed directly to consumers. Alternative medicine products and service providers are prime examples of direct-to-consumer health care marketing via the Internet. In this article, the authors discuss the increasing trends of usage of the Internet and alternative medicine, and the possible dangerous outcomes of the inappropriate use of alternative medicine. They also identify and discuss selected alternative medicine information Web sites.
TL;DR: Different types of Internet sources related to SCI are presented and some tips for evaluating Web sites are provided.
Abstract: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that results in a loss of function such as mobility or feeling. SCI has a very sudden impact on an individual, both in the physical and emotional sense. Many people every day suffer SCI and information about SCI is very much in demand. The Internet has become a means of disseminating information to consumers about SCI. Numerous Web sites from associations, non-profit organizations, universities, and some personal sites offer material on SCI to consumers. Although Internet users should beware of misinformation, SCI Web sites and Discussions/Information Exchange Forums can provide a wealth of information if used with caution. This article presents selected different types of Internet sources related to SCI and provides some tips for evaluating Web sites.
TL;DR: This article reviews a number of the important information providers based on their ability to help in living with lupus on a day-to-day basis.
Abstract: The immune system normally protects the body from germs, viruses, and bacteria. In lupus erythematosus, a chronic autoimmune disease, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues. The immune system becomes overactive and attacks normal tissue. This attack causes inflammation, redness, pain, and swelling, especially in skin, joints, brain, blood, and kidneys. This article reviews a number of the important information providers based on their ability to help in living with I upus on a day-to-day basis.
TL;DR: Ten basic points are discussed to help consumers conduct good searches on the Internet to find accurate, reliable information about cancer.
Abstract: The explosion of Web-based information has resulted in an overabundance of health information, making it difficult for consumers to decide how to proceed, where to go, and who to believe. Reliable information is available on the Web, but much misinformation is being posted as well. This paper discusses ten basic points to help consumers conduct good searches on the Internet to find accurate, reliable information about cancer.
TL;DR: The profile of a caregiver is a middle-aged working woman with children, and the issues of caregiving are receiving national attention as more Americans are living longer.
Abstract: Family caregiving is one of the nation's valuable assets. Caregivers dedicate their time and energy to taking care of family members who can no longer care for themselves. Caregivers feel isolated and overburdened from balancing caregiving responsibilities, careers, marriages, and children. The profile of a caregiver is a middle-aged working woman with children. The issues of caregiving are receiving national attention as more Americans are living longer. One of the challenges in the twenty-first century is the senior boom. Care-giving has been part of the family experience, but as a nation we must address the issues of long-term care.
TL;DR: This paper offers a means of evaluating sites, based on their domain, and on their publisher, that will help the librarian or consumer who is new to Web evaluation in determining the merits of documents.
Abstract: The vast and confusing amount of health information available on the Internet has made quick evaluation of Web sites a challenge for health information librarians. Using a number of different sites as examples, this paper offers a means of evaluating sites, based on their domain, and on their publisher. Also included are a number of sites that will help the librarian or consumer who is new to Web evaluation in determining the merits of documents.