HINARI/Health Information on the Internet (module 1.3 Part A)

MODULE 1.3 Health Information on the Internet Instructions - This part of the: course is a PowerPoint demonstration intended to introduce you to Health Information on the Internet module is off-line and is intended as an information resource for reference use.

Table of Contents – Part A Evaluating Health Information on the Internet Grey Literature - definition Health Organization Sources –, inter- governmental, governmental and non- governmental agencies Databases and Library Catalogs Search Engines and Gateways Discussion groups E-Journal resources

Table of Contents – Part B Sampling of resources Consumer Health/Patient Education HIV/AIDS Pharmacy and Pharmacology Public Health Reproductive Health Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases Managing Internet Resources

Evaluating Web Information Criteria for Evaluation Accuracy Authority Currency Coverage Objectivity Criteria for evaluating Health Information www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/evaluatinghealthinformation.html Since the Internet is a self-publishing medium, the information is not selected by professionals. Information retrieved from the Internet must be evaluated and analyzed for appropriateness for clinical and research purposes. Per the criteria listed in this slide, the key is to remember to use these basic evaluation tools when you view a website for the first time. Many health sites explain the criteria used for including material within the website. For example, the Essential Health Links gateway reviews each potential link using a list of required criteria. See: http://www.healthnet.org/essential-links/about.html

Evaluation Checklist

Website accrediting organization

Google Search: Dengue Fever This slide is the first page of a ‘Dengue Fever’ Google search. We have highlighted (in red) the urls or addresses of this search as these are a key for identifying the reliability of each website. The initial 3 citations are from United States governmental agencies (Centers for Disease Control and National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases) and are very authoritative sources. The description of these sites also summarizes the content. The urls of the last two sites listed also indicate that these are authoritative sources (World Health Organization and emedicine where the author/physician is listed). The other two citations are not as useful. One is for a band titled ‘dengue fever’ and the other is an entry from ‘wikipedia’. Since the editing of wikipedia information is not restricted to health professionals, the accuracy and authority of this entry is not reliable.

Grey Literature Used by the librarians, and medical and research professionals and students Is a body of materials that cannot be found easily through conventional channels – e.g. indexed databases or publishers’ lists Examples include technical reports from governmental, inter-governmental and non- governmental agencies or research groups, working papers from research groups or preprints Includes valuable information for the delivery of healthcare and policy development

Grey Literature continued Is difficult to identify and acquire for librarians and potential users Lacks strict bibliographic control - basic information such as author, publication date or publishing body and location may not readily available Is increasingly found on the Internet but can be difficult to identify, access and evaluate

Free Health Resources on the Internet Ready reference material e.g. encyclopedias Library catalogues (WHO and regional offices) Journals and books (see other modules) Bulletins, newsletters Governmental, intergovernmental and non- governmental information resources Research databases Publishers’ databases Discussion groups

Inter-governmental Agencies WHO WHO/Western Pacific Region PAHO UNAIDS UNFPA

The WHO site contains current news information plus links to statistics, publications, programs, health topics and guidelines.

This the initial page of the WHO/Pacific Region website This the initial page of the WHO/Pacific Region website. It contains similar info as the WHO site but specific to this region.

This the initial page of the Pan American Health Organization website This the initial page of the Pan American Health Organization website. It includes significant ‘country specific’ information.

The UNAIDS webpage is the site of an inter-organization consortium The UNAIDS webpage is the site of an inter-organization consortium. It includes significant epidemiological, statistical, logistical and clinical information on HIV/AIDS.

The UNFPA webpage is devoted to health and other issues for women The UNFPA webpage is devoted to health and other issues for women. Note the various topics in the POPULATION ISSUES column.

Health Organizations Resources – Governmental agencies Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, U.S.

Although geared toward the U. S Although geared toward the U.S. population, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a significant amount of relevant information about global health.

We have opened the U. S. National Institutes of Health webpage We have opened the U.S. National Institutes of Health webpage. Note how it is highlighting it’s Innovation for Global Development which discusses scientific advances for health throughout the world.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine is another governmental agency involved in global health. It develops and maintains the PubMed and other databases.

This is the Health Information page of the National Library of Medicine (NLM). It includes links many health information resources besides PubMed. www.nlm.nih.gov/hinfo.html

Non-governmental Agencies American International Health Alliance Antwerp Institute of Tropical Medicine Family Health International INASP Popline

This the American International Health Alliance webpage This the American International Health Alliance webpage. It describes the organization’s projects which are geared toward strengthening health systems in low-income countries.

Family Health International is a women and reproductive health ngo with extensive projects in many the developing countries. The next slide highlights the initial documents listed on the Resources page.

INASP is an ngo that focuses on communication, knowledge and networking projects in low-income countries. View the What We Do list for information on the organization’s key projects.

Many tropical medicine organizations have useful projects/ documents relating to global health. This example is the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp. View the broad topics for further information.

This the Diseases, Disorders and Related Topics gateway This the Diseases, Disorders and Related Topics gateway. Users can link to specific websites by keyword searching, alphabetical listing or broad subject categories.