Educating with Online Materials In this era of the empowered
patient, you may have some patients who come to you with stacks
of printouts from the Internet. But as you know, the quality of
content is critical when choosing and using medical information
from online and other media sources. Choosing Online Resources
As a physician, you are committed to providing patients with
information that is trustworthy. When suggesting websites, offer
those that rely on objective, independent sources of content,
rather than sites built to promote a specific treatment or
procedure. Refer patients to sites managed by medical
associations or government agencies, such as the NIH. Look for
sites with: Privacy policies that are easy to find and
understand. Clear disclosure of site ownership and financial
contributions. An obvious distinction between advertising and
health information. Content that is reviewed by clinical peers
and updated frequently. Using Online Resources Before you
recommend a website to patients, take a few m