FINDING HEALTH
The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance. Turn recording back on. National Center for Biotechnology Information , U. National Academies Press US ; Copyright by the National Academy of Sciences.
For more information, see the Bookshelf Copyright Notice. Hardcopy Version at National Academies Press. Contents Expand All Collapse All. Expand All Collapse All. Similar articles in PubMed. Procedures and methods of benefit assessments for medicines in Germany. Bekkering GE, Kleijnen J. Eur J Health Econ. Epub Nov How has the impact of 'care pathway technologies' on service integration in stroke care been measured and what is the strength of the evidence to support their effectiveness in this respect? Allen D, Rixson L. Int J Evid Based Healthc. Review Interventions to improve safe and effective medicines use by consumers: Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
Drugs and addictive behaviours. Older people in hospital — Get well soon. Healthy Eating Healthy Eating. Services and support Services and support. Alcohol and drug services. Carers, caring and respite care services. Child, family and relationship services. Emergency, crisis and support services. End of life and palliative care services. Hospitals, surgery and procedures. Planning and coordinating healthcare. Pregnancy and birth services. Back to Planning and coordinating healthcare Home Services and support Planning and coordinating healthcare Finding reliable health information.
Finding reliable health information Share show more. Beware of medical information provided by organisations trying to sell a particular product or service — information written to sell products or services is not medical advice. Some online health information is reliable. Check who is providing the information and what they do to make sure it is accurate. Facebook, online forums and chatrooms are not necessarily places for reliable medical information.
Educating yourself about your health issues or medical conditions is an important part of managing your health.
The best place to find health information is from healthcare professionals. Ask your doctor, pharmacist or allied health professional when you have medical questions.
You should ask questions of your healthcare team so that you can fully understand your options, as it is their job to explain your health conditions to you. Health information is readily available from reputable sources such as: Other information may not be as reliable as that from healthcare professionals. It is best to assess other sources of medical information with an open mind as they may be inaccurate.
These include magazine or TV stories or ads, advice from family and friends, or websites that may be promoting a product. If they do talk about health research, they should provide a link to the research information. Even then, the study may not be reputable. Only your healthcare professionals, such as your local doctor, can provide the most appropriate health advice. Working out which information is trustworthy is not always easy. As access to health research and evidence increases, so do the risks of misinterpreting it, and the chances of any one person getting a complete and balanced picture decreases.
When it comes to health and medical information, there are plenty of reliable sources available online through government-endorsed health websites such as Better Health Channel , peak industry bodies such as the Australian Medical Association and peak condition-specific organisations such as beyondblue and Cancer Council Victoria.
When searching for health information from less well-known online sources consider: The source of the information — understand who is providing or endorsing the content. Quality control measures — does the site have an editorial board?
Is the information reviewed by qualified experts before it is posted? A level of scepticism about online health products — if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Does it promise quick and easy results? If the provider is serious, they will be open about their products. Check if their claims are endorsed on more than one website. What is the evidence?
Do not trust testimonials from people you do not know — they may have been paid for their endorsement or given free products or services. Is the information up to date? Beware of bias — who is funding the website? What is its purpose? If the site is funded by a company that only recommends its own products, take this into consideration.
Check if it has a particular philosophical bias that influences its advice. Is your privacy protected? Beware of websites that ask for private information or share your details with others without your permission. Most reputable sites publish their privacy policy on the site. Health support groups Medical condition-focused support groups can increase your knowledge about your illness and help you learn to live more comfortably with it.
They also allow you to connect with other people going through similar situations to you. If you receive advice about medical treatments or providers through a support group either online or in person , check with a healthcare professional you trust before starting on a new treatment regimen. Tell your doctor if you plan to stop the treatment they have prescribed and explain why. It is important that you understand any risks involved in stopping or changing a medical treatment.
Check who runs the group including online groups. Be aware of support groups run by pharmaceutical companies — they may be using the group to promote their products exclusively. Not all support groups will be part of a trusted health system. This information can be difficult to find on some sites.
Difference between medical information and advertisements Some health brochures and websites are written by pharmaceutical companies or other businesses looking to sell a product or service. While they can provide some information, they may only talk about the aspects of the condition that supports their product or service.
Cultivate health and well-being. Physicians, please view our Rediscovering Meaning In Our Work program: workshops, conferences, consultations and. I have worked as a family physician in clinical medicine for over 30 years - with a focus on enhancing the body's inherent ability to heal and express health.
When reading information, see if they are recommending a service with a particular clinic or specific product. If they are, you may not be getting all the facts. Other danger signs include information that criticises medical staff and medication, use of anecdotes or testimonials instead of science-based proof, and claims to cure incurable diseases like AIDS or arthritis. Reliable health information may be found in health and fitness-focused magazines that have quality control measures in place, and base their health advice on new studies and expert opinion.
Check with your doctor before beginning any new treatment or health-related program. Social media While talking about medical issues online or with friends can provide emotional support, it is worth remembering when they are not qualified healthcare professionals and cannot always give reliable medical advice.
Dr. Deb Roman
Someone may share the same medical issue as you, but they will have a different medical history. They will have different needs, so their medical treatment may not be the same as yours. Chatting with friends on social media sites like Facebook is no substitute for proper medical advice.
Any suggested medical treatments should be discussed with your doctor. If you have health or medical questions Ask a doctor, pharmacist or community health centre if you have specific health or medical questions.
Send us your feedback. Rate this website Your comments Questions Your details. Excellent Good Average Fair Poor.
HOW I CAN HELP YOU
Next Submit Now Cancel. Please note that we cannot answer personal medical queries. If you are looking for health or medical advice we recommend that you: Enter your comments below optional. Did you find what you were looking for? Your feedback has been successfully sent. Browse planning and coordinating healthcare topics. Health system explained Prepare and research Making decisions on treatment and care Maintaining and tracking health and care Taking charge of rights and responsibilities Paying for healthcare Communicating about health Home and community support and equipment Health system explained Healthcare system in Victoria The Victorian healthcare system comprises a wide range of health professionals working alongside one another to provide medical and health services Immunisations - vaccinations in Victoria, Australia video Vaccinations are encouraged for all individuals living in the state of Victoria, Australia.
Primary healthcare explained Primary healthcare is the first contact a person has with the health care system when they have a health problem. Who's who in your healthcare team Your healthcare team may include a doctor, dentist, pharmacist, medical specialists, allied health professionals and complementary medicine practitioners Working with your healthcare team If you see a number of healthcare professionals, it is important to tell them about any other healthcare services you are using Young people and health services There are many subsidised and free medical, dental, mental, community health services available to support young people in Victoria Prepare and research 3 steps to better health video Ways to improve your understanding of your health Finding reliable health information Trusted health information can be found through your local doctor or pharmacy and other reliable health providers General practitioner GP services A general practitioner GP is a doctor who is also qualified in general medical practice.
Health information and health products online Don't use online health information to self-diagnose - always see your doctor or healthcare professional Medical tourism and insurance People may choose to travel overseas to seek medical or surgical treatment that is unavailable in their home country. Medicine information leaflets for consumers A Consumer Medicines Information CMI leaflet gives you accurate information about the safety of your medication and how best to take it Making decisions on treatment and care Advance care plans Advance care plans can help the people close to you and those caring for you to know what is important to you about the level of healthcare and quality of life you would want After-hours healthcare options For unexpected after-hours medical issues, there are telephone helplines, pharmacies, after-hours medical clinics or doctors who can visit you at home Making healthcare decisions for someone else Family members may be involved in making healthcare decisions for you if you are unable to make decisions and it is not a medical emergency Second opinions You have the right to ask a doctor for a second opinion if you are unsure about your doctor's suggested medical treatment or a diagnosis Types of doctors and health professionals Doctors and other health professionals all have a different role to play in your healthcare Maintaining and tracking health and care Immunisations - vaccinations in Victoria, Australia video Vaccinations are encouraged for all individuals living in the state of Victoria, Australia.