Consumer health information

Finding reliable, up-to-date health information is critical for all of us, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage on (at the time of this writing). There are a tremendous number of websites offering health information, however it can be hard to distinguish quality, evidence-based, unb...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPublic Services Quarterly Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 234 - 241
Main Author Adams, Annis Lee
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Binghamton Routledge 01.10.2020
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
Consumer health information
COVID-19
Information professionals
public services
Reference services
Web sites
Online AccessGet full text

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Summary:Finding reliable, up-to-date health information is critical for all of us, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage on (at the time of this writing). There are a tremendous number of websites offering health information, however it can be hard to distinguish quality, evidence-based, unbiased sites from others backed by special interests or promoting particular treatments or points-of-view. As our students, campus community, family members, and friends seek good information on any number of health topics, we, as information professionals, need to be sure we refer them to the best sources. The websites reviewed in this column provide a variety of health information. Sites range from explanations of diseases, conditions, and treatments to medications, children's health, and how to talk to your doctor. These websites are geared to the general public, not health professionals. They are provided by government agencies like the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, and by highly regarded medical providers and nonprofits.
ISSN:1522-8959
1522-9114
DOI:10.1080/15228959.2020.1818665