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Online Health Information:Are You Sure You Can Trust It?
Are you sure that the health information you found for yourself, a family member, or a loved one is reliable? According to Anne Conner, medical librarian at Littleton Regional Hospital’s Gale Medical Library, “It’s important to know where to look for good resources. There is a great amount of health information on the internet, but not all of it presents an unbiased view. There are, however, some great websites that were created by reliable organizations such as academic health centers or the National Library of Medicine. Such websites are well-maintained and contain information that is accurate and up to date.
A recent Pew Internet and American Life Project study revealed that, as more Americans come online, more rely on the internet for important health information. Many Americans are using the internet more, whether for entertainment or to help a loved one through a medical crisis. Many stated that their most important source of health information was something they found online. Most never check the source and date of online health information, although these are very important things to consider when using internet health information.
Gale Medical Library at Littleton Regional Hospital is a great place to locate consumer health information. Although the library’s primary function is to serve the needs of the hospital staff, the public is always welcome to use the library during regular business hours. In addition to maintaining the Anna Connors Collection of books on a variety of health topics, the library subscribes to monthly newsletters published by major medical centers. A list of the Medical Library Association’s “Top Ten” Most Useful Health Websites is also available. (One of the goals of the nonprofit Medical Library Association is to promote the importance of quality information for improved health to the health care community and the public.)
The Gale Medical Library is located on the ground floor of the H. Taylor Caswell Medical Building at Littleton Regional Hospital. For more information, contact Anne Conner, medical librarian, at 603-444-9564.
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