Download Finding the Best Information

The Cancer Nutrition Network for Texans presents:
Creating Cancer Care Teams:
A workshop for Cancer Patients and
their Family Caregivers
The CNNT is funded by the University of Texas Medical Branch and the Texas Cancer Council Contract # 08-94
Finding the Best Information
What to consider when assessing health information.
We hope that you will walk away from
this seminar equipped with the tools and
knowledge to find credible resources for
researching cancer and caregiver topics via the:
Internet
Magazines
Health Journals
Newspapers
Books
What you should know about .com
health sites…

Some websites may represent a specific company
or have support from a company that uses the
web for commercial purposes:
…to make money by SELLING PRODUCTS.
Guide to Finding Information on the Internet
Internet Areas
.com = for-profit company
Example: www.cancer.com
A pharmaceutical company
.edu = educational institute
Example: www.utmb.edu
The University of Texas Medical Branch
.gov = government agency
Example: www.cancer.gov
National Cancer Institute
.org = non-profit agency
Example: www.cancer.org
American Cancer Society
Informational Websites

Is the site updated frequently? Health information changes
constantly.

Does it establish the site as respected and dependable?

Intended Audience (i.e. consumer or health professional)
Factual Information

Information presented in a clear manner

Factual (not opinion)

Capable of being verified from professional resources
Information that is represented as an opinion,
should be clearly stated and the source identified
as a qualified professional or organization.
1.
Who are the authors?
•
•
2.
Is the information anonymous?
What are their credentials?
Do the authors have a hidden
agenda?
•
•
•
Is there a conflict of interest?
Is the information one-sided or biased?
Is there a claim of a miracle or secret
cure?
Who published the information?
Articles, Books, and Pamphlets

How credible is the source?

Are they selling something?
Trust your Instincts!
Organization
Website Address
The National Cancer Institute (NCI)
www.cancer.gov
Cancer Nutrition Network for Texans
www.utmb.edu/nsights/default.htm
Cancer Gateway of Texas
www.cancergateway.org
American Cancer Society
http://cancer.org
Where did the information come
from?
1.
•
Is the original source referenced?
•
Is it based on scientific evidence?
•
Is it supported by data?
What kind of evaluations have
been done on the information?
2.
•
Is the information peer reviewed?
•
Do other sources substantiate the
information?
Fear is our greatest enemy . . .
information our greatest ally.
Acknowledgements
We’d like to thank the following partners for their
support and those that allowed us to share their
reliable information:
Medical Library
Association
The Cancer Nutrition
Network for Texans
Texas Cancer Council
The University of Texas
Medical Branch
American Cancer Society