Media Management Of Women's Health
(continued)
Welcome to the World Wide Web:
The Internet has literally opened a whole new world for patient-directed research,
often offering patients access to information on diagnoses and treatments
about which their physicians are not yet aware or informed. This creates a
significant shift of power-and responsibility-from physicians to patients.
Already, more than 17 million Americans have accessed medical care data online
this year, a 35% increase from 1997. Of all on-line users, nearly half have
accessed medical or health information. These numbers have encouraged nearly
$120 million in venture-capital funding of Internet-related health-care companies,
according to Business Week. . .yet there is no regulation or quality
control of the information content or advice that these sites deliver. With
an estimated 15,000 health and medical sites, the amount of data that is incorrect
is staggering and clearly challenges the credibility of the Web itself. Two
recent attempts to address this are:
- Health on the Net (www.HON.org),
a nonprofit organization which gives "certification" to cites who voluntarily
commit to a list of eight principles comprising their "Net Code of Conduct":
- Any medical/health advice will be given by medically qualified professionals
unless a clear statement is made to the contrary.
- The information on the site is designed to support, not replace, the
existing doctor-patient relationship.
- Patient confidentiality is respected and honored by this site.
- Where appropriate, information will be supported by clear references
with specific HTML links. Dates of last modification of clinical pages
will be clearly displayed.
- Any claims about specific treatments, commercial products or services
will be supported by appropriate, balanced, and reference evidence.
- Web site hosts commit to provide information in the clearest possible
manner with contact information for further support.
- Financial support for the web site will be clearly identified.
- If advertising is a source of funding it will be clearly stated along
with the advertising policy adopted by the web site owners.
- US Department of Health and Human Services has a recently launched cite
which aims to teach consumers how to evaluate web sites (www.scipich.org).
All of the above tips for mainstream media evaluation apply to the web. In
addition, some warnings specific to the web follow.
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 As a physician and a woman’s health advocate... I worry about how much of the health information in the media is actually correct. 
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