Basic Computer Information

What computer skills do I need to access health information?

To access health information you will need the internet on your home computer.  To get the internet, you will need to call an internet provider to start service at your home.  Examples of internet providers are: XFINITY, Comcast, and Century Link.

You will need a modem, which is a device that helps information be transmitted to or from computer to a telephone line or cable line.  This can vary in size from the size of a small cracker box to the size of a cereal box.  You also need a router, often the modem and router are part of the same device.  A router is a device that connects multiple computers or devices to the same network.  It is what puts out a "wireless" signal.   This wireless signal can usually be accessed on multiple devices by entering a password.  The internet provider can help walk you through set up for your modem and router.


The most important program on your computer is the operating system.  This is what runs the computer, for example Windows XP and Apple MacOS are operating systems.  Through your operating system you will be able to access software to explore the internet, these programs include: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Mozilla Firefox.   


After accessing the internet you can use search engines such as: Bing, Yahoo, or Google to search for the information you need.  When searching for health information it is important to access the site to see if it is trustworthy information, see my post on assessing health information.  As you use health related sites and other sites sometimes information is often stored for you.  This is called cloud computing.  This may benefit you when using health related sites.  For example your doctor's office may offer access to sites such as My Health Online, where some of your health records are stored online for you.  You can access lab tests and send messages to your doctor.  All this information is stored for you in a secure place.  Often a username and password is needed to get into these sites. 


If your computer is running slow you may need more RAM (Random Access Memory), this is the part of the computer that store and retrieves information.  It is only used when the computer is on.  The more RAM you have, the faster your computer runs.  If your internet runs slow you may need a broadband connection, this connection allows the internet to transmit a large volume of information. 

Evaluating Health Websites

As a health consumer is is difficult to know where to find accurate up to date health information.  There is a lot of inaccurate information presented on the internet.  There are many diagnoses when you google a symptom. It is important to ask yourself questions when evaluating a website. Especially when health choices you are making for you and your family are dependent on the information gathered. It is important to evaluate if the website is accurate, up to date, and based on research.  Here are questions that are important to ask your self when evaluating a website:



Who developed and maintains the website? Who is the author/s of the website and what are their credentials?  Is the author/s credible? Websites that are based on an author's opinions can be inaccurate.  Experts in a field are more credible and the more experts collaborating the more accurate. 



Where is the information posted coming from? What is it based on? Is it accurate? Is the content based on research or is it the author's opinion?  Does the website provide information on where the content is coming from?  Websites presenting information based on research and from experts in the field will be more accurate. 



Are they trying to promote something or sell you something? Is the site trying to sell you something or making claims that are too good to be true?  Be weary of site trying to sell a product or convince you of something that seems to good to be true. 



Is the information posted reviewed by anyone? Often credible sources will have the information reviewed by experts in the field to ensure accuracy.



Is information current?
When was the information posted?  How current is the information?  The more current the better, especially with health related information.



What kinds of sites is it linked to?
Are there links on the site?  Are the links taking you to trusted sites?  It's important to evaluate each site you access.  If you believe you are on a credible site it does always mean everything it's linked to is credible. 



What does the site do with your personal information? Often sites use your personal information.  It's important to evaluate what the site is doing with your person al information.  There is often a privacy policy link on the bottom of a webpage that will tell you how the site uses your personal information. 



Here is a list of a few health related websites I trust:
Center for Disease Control
cdc.gov
World Health Organization
http://www.who.int/en/

National Center for Complementary and Integrated Health
https://nccih.nih.gov/

Medline Plus
https://www.medlineplus.gov/

Lactmed
https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/newtoxnet/lactmed.htm
DailyMed
https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/index.cfm

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
http://www.eatright.org/

Accessing and Maintaining Personal Health Documents Online

In the past it has been difficult to track all your health records.  It can be difficult to access all the information from different providers and services received.  Luckily there are now apps and services available online to help organize a personal heath record (PHR).  Healthcare providers have similar records called electronic health records (EHR).  A PHR is similar except the patient is in charge of it and determines who has access to it.  A PHR can be shared with healthcare professionals and can make it easier for them to have the information they need to care for patients.  Often patients have to enter all the information into a PHR.
 

In some cases your insurance company, your employer, or health provider may offer a service or access to a system to help patients track their own health record.  You can keep track of appointments, view lab results, and sometimes consult with your doctor.   Sometimes these systems allow patients to put in their own information.  These services can help keep PHRs up to date and may aid in helping patients lead healthier lives.  It is important when using these systems to make sure they are protecting your information and keeping it secure. 

Online Support Groups

Online support groups are a great resource.  Many people dealing with a chronic illness or addiction often feel alone and sometimes support groups in your community are not available.  Online support gives people support where ever they are and whatever their schedule is like.

Online support groups should be evaluated just like websites should be evaluated.  It's important to review the privacy and security of the site and support group. It's also important to keep in mind that sometimes when posting something it's public and anyone can see it.  Some online support groups are secure and only those in the group can see it. 
Here are a few examples of online support groups:

Alcoholics Anonymous
This offers an online option for the usual AA meetings.  If you don't have AA meetings near you or can't make it at the usual time, this gives an alternative option.

https://www.aa-intergroup.org/

Support for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients
This support group is for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients and allows them to share their struggles.  It's important to remember you are not alone.

http://www.alz.org/apps/we_can_help/support_groups.asp

Diabetes online support community

This is a support community for diabetic patients.  Here you can chat and discuss hardship and solutions to living with diabetes. 
http://community.diabetes.org/home

Autism online support group
This gives you access to online support groups for those with Autism and their caregivers.

https://www.autismspeaks.org/community-and-support-network/online-support-groups

Support network for heart and stroke patients

This is an online support network for those with heart conditions or who have had a stroke. 
http://supportnetwork.heart.org/home