Presentation given by E. A. M. Howard for a joint Public Library Program, as well as a Fort Worth ISD Program. Slides created by K. Vandertulip.

1. GOOGLING FOR HEALTH

2. WHAT’S WORTH READING FOR HEALTH?
Caring for your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Five Years: This
comprehensive book covers normal child development and what to do if
you think your child might be sick.
Mayo Clinic Guides: The Mayo Clinic has put together books for everything
from pregnancy to diabetes. Their books give excellent, evidence-
based advice that’s easy to read and understand.
Bad Science: This book gives great tips for learning about medical
research and how to spot a quack.

3. SYMPTOM CHECKERS
http://www.mayoclinic.org/sympto
m-checker/select-symptom/ITT-
20009075

4. USING SYMPTOM CHECKERS TO PREPARE FOR A
DOCTOR’S VISIT
Ask Me Three
• What is my main problem?
• What do I need to do?
• Why is it important for me to do this?
http://www.npsf.org/for-healthcare-
professionals/programs/ask-me-3/

5. FINDING OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT A
CONDITION
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
Center for Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/

6. LEARNING ABOUT YOUR DRUGS
Physicians’ Desk Reference:
http://www.pdrhealth.com/drugs/humalo
g
Daily Med:
http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/loo
kup.cfm?setid=c8ecbd7a-0e22-4fc7-
a503-faa58c1b6f3f

7. LEARNING ABOUT OTHER TREATMENTS
Alternative medicine:
http://nccam.nih.gov/
Complementary and Alternative Medicine CAM

8. LEARNING ABOUT SURGERY
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
Gastric bypass

9. FINDING OUT ABOUT NEW TREATMENTS
Clinical trials
www.centerwatch.com/clinical-trials/listings/

10. GOOGLING FOR HEALTH
Good Google searching
• “Search for a phrase”
• - Exclude a word
• OR Search different terms
• define:
Look for the NLM Box

11. EVALUATING GOOGLE RESULTS
Look at the source…Reliable?
Look at your source’s sources…who do they get their information from?
Researchers? Or anecdotes?
Look at the funding? Who is paying for the web site? Web sites funded by
tax dollars or nonprofits are generally the most reliable. Sites with lots
of ads may let themselves be biased by those buying the advertising
space! (WebMD)

12. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/EuniceAndJamesLWestLibrary