Apr 13 2008
Ten Things To Know About Evaluating Medical Resources on the Web
I find the following article very important for evaluating medical information on the internet. It is so easy to be drawn into mis-information on the web, and can actually be detrimental to your well being. Know your sources!
The number of web sites offering health-related resources grows every day. Many sites provide valuable information, while others may have information that is unreliable or misleading. This short guide contains important questions you should consider as you look for health information online. Answering these questions when you visit a new site will help you evaluate the information you find.
1. Who runs this site?
Any good health-related Web site should make it easy for you to learn who is responsible for the site and its information.
2. Who pays for the site?
It costs money to run a Web site. The source of a Web site’s funding should be clearly stated or readily apparent. For example, Web addresses ending in “.gov” denote a government-sponsored site. You should know how the site pays for its existence. Does it sell advertising? Is it sponsored by a drug company? The source of funding can affect what content is presented, how the content is presented, and what the site owners want to accomplish on the site.
3. What is the purpose of the site?
This question is related to who runs and pays for the site. An “About This Site” link appears on many sites; if it’s there, use it. The purpose of the site should be clearly stated and should help you evaluate the trustworthiness of the information.
4. Where does the information come from?
Many health/medical sites post information collected from other Web sites or sources. If the person or organization in charge of the site did not create the information, the original source should be clearly labeled.
5. What is the basis of the information?
In addition to identifying who wrote the material you are reading, the site should describe the evidence that the material is based on. Medical facts and figures should have references (such as to articles in medical journals). Also, opinions or advice should be clearly set apart from information that is “evidence-based” (that is, based on research results).
6. How is the information selected?
Is there an editorial board? Do people with excellent professional and scientific qualifications review the material before it is posted?
7. How current is the information?
Web sites should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis. It is particularly important that medical information be current. The most recent update or review date should be clearly posted. Even if the information has not changed, you want to know whether the site owners have reviewed it recently to ensure that it is still valid.
8. How does the site choose links to other sites?
Web sites usually have a policy about how they establish links to other sites. Some medical sites take a conservative approach and don’t link to any other sites. Some link to any site that asks, or pays, for a link. Others only link to sites that have met certain criteria.
9. What information about you does the site collect, and why?
Web sites routinely track the paths visitors take through their sites to determine what pages are being used. However, many health Web sites ask you to “subscribe” or “become a member.” In some cases, this may be so that they can collect a user fee or select information for you that is relevant to your concerns. In all cases, this will give the site personal information about you.
Any credible health site asking for this kind of information should tell you exactly what they will and will not do with it. Many commercial sites sell “aggregate” (collected) data about their users to other companies–information such as what percentage of their users are women with breast cancer, for example. In some cases they may collect and reuse information that is “personally identifiable,” such as your ZIP code, gender, and birth date. Be certain that you read and understand any privacy policy or similar language on the site, and don’t sign up for anything that you are not sure you fully understand.
10. How does the site manage interactions with visitors?
There should always be a way for you to contact the site owner if you run across problems or have questions or feedback. If the site hosts chat rooms or other online discussion areas, it should tell visitors what the terms of using this service are. Is it moderated? If so, by whom, and why? It is always a good idea to spend time reading the discussion without joining in, so that you feel comfortable with the environment before becoming a participant.
This publication is adapted from a fact sheet produced by the National Cancer Institute. It is not copyrighted and it is in the public domain.
Green teas are as varied and unique as wines. Their uniqueness depends upon the growing region, the season’s weather, time of harvesting and type of processing. Many varieties are available in multiple grades. Some exotic teas are picked only one day a year! The majority of green teas come from Japan, China or India. Processing of the tea varies between the different regions so this is just a basic overview. The finest teas come from the most aromatic, young, top two leaves and the unopened leaf bud of the plant. After picking, the green leaves are spread out in the hot air to wither. Once they are soft, they are traditionally pan-fried in woks. In Japan, they may be steamed. This prevents the leaves from oxidizing (fermenting) as occurs in black tea. The leaves are then rolled to give them durability, their characteristic shapes: twisted, curly or balled, and as a means to regulate the release of natural substances and flavor when steeped. The final step dries the leaves by firing. This stabilizes the natural fragrances and flavors and preserves the green color. The objective of processing the tea leaves into green tea is to preserve the healthy, natural and active substances.
