The Web: Online Health Information
Posted on: 10/30/06
The internet can be a powerful learning tool when used correctly to find information on various health related topics. However, how can you discern accurate information from frivolous claims?
A report released by the Pew Internet & American Life Project released on October 29, 2006, states "Just 15% of health seekers say they 'always' check the source and date of the health information they find online, while another 10% say they do so 'most of the time.'" That is out of 113 million adults who have searched for information on at least one of seventeen health topics.
It is not surprising that, anecdotally, we have heard that doctors sometimes advise their patients to stay away from medical information on the internet altogether.
For us here at SAA, it is a constant challenge to stay on top on the latest information on spondylitis and related diseases. All of the medical information on our site comes from sources vetted by our Medical Board and is in a state of constant revision in order to keep up with the latest studies and information. The brochures and other educational materials we distribute are often co-written by leaders in their respective fields.
Some of the physicians on our Medical Board are still extremely active in disseminating spondylitis information to the medical community. Muhammad Asim Khan, MD, MACP, FRCP, for example, recently published yet more material on ankylosing spondylitis that covers many aspects of the disease. It is currently available here to those who have signed up at medscape.com website.
It is good to make sure that the information you find is the most accurate. Here at SAA, we do our best to make sure it is.
Click here to read about some of the awards spondylitis.org has garnered for the information we provide.