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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. Evaluating Web Information
Criteria for Evaluation
Accuracy
Authority
Currency
Coverage
Objectivity
Criteria for evaluating Health Information
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:

6. Evaluation Checklist

7. Website accrediting organization

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

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

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

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

22. This is the Health Information page of the National Library of Medicine (NLM). It includes links many health information resources besides PubMed.

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

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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.