Why is it important to find good quality health information online?
- Anyone can post anything online
- People can be out to just make money
- Poor quality health information can be harmful to your health
Key Websites
NHS 111 Wales
A health advice and information service provided by Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust.
It includes:
- Symptom checker
- Search for local services
- Encyclopaedia
- Live well section
- Ask a question function
Patient
Patient aims to help the world proactively manage its healthcare, supplying evidence-based information on a wide range of medical and health topics to patients and health professionals.
An independent website where you can search for conditions, symptoms and medicines.
Health in Wales
Health in Wales was part of the Patient and Carer Empowerment project, to enable people in Wales to become far more involved in their health. Providing reliable health information.
It includes information on:
- Local health services
- Conditions
- Publications
- Statistics
Charity Websites
Charity websites can be a useful source of information on a condition.
Here are some charity websites with features you may find useful.
Health Talk
Health Talk has thousands of videos to allow you to hear what it is like to live with a health condition from someone who has or had the condition.
Great Ormond Street Hospital
This website has a health dictionary that explains medical terms in a simple way that can be useful for children to understand their condition. There is a section detailing various procedures so children know what to expect.
Mind
This website has information on mental health conditions, advise for families and friends, and has a section for children and younger people.
Google Advanced Search
Allows you to apply limits to your google search, for example by site or domain
Site or Domains you may want to use:
- NHS Websites are an excellent source for health information
- Charities can be good sources of information on a specific condition
- Academic Institutions can be good sources as they are concerned with the truth rather than profit
- To find simply Google – Google advanced search
- Enter what you are looking for into ‘all these words’ field, for example migraine
- Enter one of these into site or domain field to limit to these types of sites:
- For NHS websitesenter – nhs.uk
- For charities enter – org.uk
- For academic institutionsenter – ac.uk
Consider these questions to determine if information can be trusted
Who? – Who runs the website? Can you trust them?
What? – What does the site say? Does it seem too good to be true?
When? – When was it posted/updated? Is it up to date?
Where? – Where does the information come from? Is it scientific research?
Why? – Why have they written it? Are they selling something?
It is recommended that you speak to your GP or healthcare professional if you have any concerns about your health.