Discussion – Patient Care Technology
Great advancements in technology have enabled the availability of medical information on the Internet. However, there is a need to assess the source’s credibility (Song et al., 2021). Reliable sites often belong to reputable healthcare organizations, government agencies, or established medical institutions. Their information is usually written or reviewed by healthcare professionals and cross-referenced with known medical databases. Additionally, website domains such as edu, gov, and org domains are generally more trustworthy than .com or .net. Peer-reviewed articles and publications are also indicators of quality. Another factor is the currency of information. Medical knowledge evolves, so recent publications are preferable. Caution should be taken with websites promising miracle cures, using sensational language, or lacking proper citations.
Negative experiences with patients relying on the web for medical advice are very common. Patients can misinterpret information which creates anxiety or unnecessary concern. Self-diagnosis and treatment based on inaccurate online information can worsen health issues or delay appropriate medical care (Song et al., 2021). In some cases, patients may refuse professional advice, convinced of their online findings. Such situations can strain the patient-provider relationship and compromise patient outcomes. Additionally, misinformation from the internet may cause vaccine hesitancy or adherence issues. It’s important to educate patients about the potential pitfalls of relying solely on Internet information. They should be encouraged to consult healthcare professionals for accurate information.
In my practice, I encountered a case where a patient, after consulting online sources, insisted on a specific treatment regimen for diabetes mellitus. The regimen was not in line with evidence-based guidelines. Despite efforts to explain the rationale behind the recommended approach, the patient decided to follow the online advice. Unfortunately, the patient’s condition worsened. This sheds light on the danger associated with misplaced trust in internet-derived medical information. This highlights the need for healthcare professionals to engage in open and honest communication with patients. They should address their concerns while guiding them toward reliable sources of information.
References
Song, S., Zhang, Y., & Yu, B. (2021). Interventions to support consumer evaluation of online health information credibility: A scoping review. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 145, 104321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2020.104321
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Question 
Step 1 In an initial post of approximately 150 words, respond to the prompt.
Discussion – Patient Care Technology
Yvonne Johnson is a 45-year-old woman recently diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis and she searches the Internet for information about her ongoing symptoms. Review the document Tips and Suggestions for Evaluating Websites Download Tips and Suggestions for Evaluating Websites
Identify ways to determine whether an Internet site is trustworthy and valid when you are seeking medical information. Also, discuss any negative experiences you might have encountered when a patient or someone you know has used the web for “medical advice.”
Step 2 Read other students’ posts and respond to at least two of them by Friday at 11:59 pm MT.
In your response posts, discuss other options, not mentioned by your peers, that could be used to assist in determining what medical information websites are valid and reliable.