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Warning!

The articles and Patient leaflets published on this Blogg , have been originally written for the Geraldton Guardian's forthnightly Health Matters section or the www.cityhealthgeraldton.com.au - General Practice Website. I have researched topics , i wrote about, as thoroughly as I could and have listed sources at the end of each article. They are by no means purely scientific but reflect general medical opinion at the time of writing . Medicine and Health news move past, and some of the advice and opinions, will become outdated. Guardian articles were limited to about 400 words , which sometimes made the offering of a comprehensive view difficult if not imperfect. These articles shouldn't be used as replacement for propper medical professional advice and treatment and you are encouraged to seek medical advice and treatment from your doctor , pharmacist, appropriate specialist (physio, chiro...) on matters , if you are concerned.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Safe Surfing for your Health


The Internet can be as misleading as it can be helpful if you are looking for some advice in health matters. It only has to be viewed critically as you would do with the news or even newspapers. Now nearly anybody is able to produce a website , the code of practice is very much depending on the author/’s. Use your common sense , healthy judgement and follow some basic rules. Who runs the website is it a not for profit organisation, government body (sites ending in .gov or .org) or a commercial enterprise (often .com)
Is the site based on evidence and scientifically proven , good quality research or just based on theory and isolated stories. Is the content balanced or is it’s view on esided , research further into claims made. Is the authors / organisation name and qualification given? Conflict of interest does the site branding one product only? is it sponsored by a pharma company, does it claim to provide cure and to sell you something?
Alarm bells should ring :
- personal testimonies
- one study only used as proof
- treatment based on secret formulas
- treatment claimed to be a cure for everyone
- treatment works immediately
- treatment available from one source especially over the net only
- Beware of self diagnosis and self prescription

Shortly beware sites , which sound to nice to be true and discuss contents or treatment if in doubt with your doctor , pharmacist or nurse only be patient we try to keep up to date but information needs to sieved even by professionals.
Usually Highly regarded organisations like hospitals , royal colleges , acknowledged patient self help organisations can be trusted but don’t loose your healthy scepticism.
Some examples of good sites:
-
www.racgp.org.au has a family doctors home advisor and is searchable for the contents of www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au, www.healthinsite.gov.au 2 other very good websites
-
www.patient.co.uk comprehensive and searchable evidence based patient and even professional information on all sorts.
-
www.drsref.com.au under patient has a free link to Prof. John Murtagh’s Patient advice book , one of the greatest patient educators of present Australian medicine.
-
www.allergy.org.au
- Www.rheumatology.org.au
- www.agpn.com.au (Australian General Practice Network)
- www.national asthma.org.au
- …….
Sources:
- Kidney Health Australia
- Google Australian links Patient Information

Conflict of interest:
“Dr Schenk surfs daily, and still get’s anxious on the view of a patient with piles of net printouts”.

Helko Schenk, 6 7 2009

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