Alternative Health Blog

Eighty percent of American adults have searched the Internet for health purposes. Our mission here at AHJ is make easier for all of us to become companions who walk and talk together toward better health. That 80 percent statistic from the Pew Internet & American Life Project  has remained steady since the Pew Foundation first developed the research in 2003. It won’t surprise you to know the top five topics/reasons for searching are, from No. 1 to No. 5, a specific disease, a specific medical treatment, diet/nutrition/supplements, exercise and prescription drugs.

Where it becomes instructive is in the Pew findings that only 15 percent of Internet users looking up health info “always” take the trouble to check the source and date of the information. Another 10 percent responded that they check source and date “most of the time.” A full three-quarters of users, we’re talking 85 million people, say they “sometimes,” “almost never” or “never” make sure to check the source and date. So let’s cut to Guideline 1 to being a savvy user of the Internet for health and wellness: 

1. Be sure to check the source and date of your information. If  there is no source, that’s worth some investigation. This doesn’t mean that all material needs to be documented to a university or scientific study—you might appreciate the blog of cancer patient or personal trainer—just that you want to know who and what is supplying the info. The date of the material is equally important. If it was posted eight months or eight years ago, it might still be relevant or, with some health topics, be outdated. If the site doesn’t provide sources either in the text or somewhere on the home page or navigation bar, drop a comment or note to ask for follow-up. The good sites will respond.

The Pew researchers found that 75 percent of Internet health seekers and browsers said they felt “reassured” that could make better decisions based on the info searches, while 56 percent were “confident” to raise new questions or ideas to health practitioners. What’s more, 56 percent said they felt “relieved” or “comforted” by the information. That gets us to Guideline 2:

2. Consider what you learn on the Internet to be a talking point for deeper discussion with others. Maybe you searched info for a loved one or friend; what you found can help you craft some next steps together. Another positive use is to frame new questions to your doctor or health practitioner based on the info. If your doctor is reluctant, be strong and make it clear you have checked sources and dates, that the info is a starting point rather than absolute. Encourage an open discussion.

Twenty-five percent of the Internet users in the Pew health survey said they felt “overwhelmed” by the amount of information they discovered on the web. That’s understandable and, honestly, the number seems low given the nature of a Web browser search.  In contrast, 22 percent of health users on the Net said they were “frustrated” by lack of information on a particular disease, treatment or other topic. That makes sense, too, if the search is for a more rare condition, cutting-edge treatment or experimental supplement or drug.  So here’s Guideline 3:

3. Don’t expect the Internet to over-deliver on what you are looking to know. If your search and digging turns up copious information, make the effort to filter it. A few ideas on how to do so: Recognize which sites are commercial or basically a business looking to sell you a product or service; this is not necessarily bad, it’s just that you need to be aware of that fact. Get a read on whether the site aligns with your health approach in terms of being conservative about using drugs and surgery before lifestyle modification or vice  versa. Look for authoritative sources and voices on a site, but beware of any pracitioner/blogger who seems to know it all without any reference to other authoritative sources.  As for not finding out enough about your health search online, you might have to “resort” to such old-fashioned methods as using the phone to call a progressive practitioner or maybe try a targeted email to see if you can turn any individuals who know anything about your subject; be creative in who your email and always be respectful of that person’s time and email box.

This is the first of an occasional series about using the Internet for health and wellness purposes. Look for upcoming topics covering online support groups; the good, bad and misleading about message boards; and how to use AlternativeHealthJournal.com to its fullest potential.

Bob Condor blogs for Alternative Health Journal every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.