From Snake Oil to Penicillin: Evaluating Consumer Health Information on the Internet

Course Description

This hands-on course will describe why it is important to evaluate websites. Participants will be given criteria for how to evaluate health information on the Internet.

Objectives

Learn how to evaluate health information sites on the internet using the following criteria:

Accuracy
Authority
Bias
Currency
Coverage

Course Materials

For additional PowerPoint slides, please contact Terri Ottosen, Consumer Health Coordinator, NN/LM, SE/A Region

Continuing Education

Upon successful completion of this class, each participant will receive 3 hours of continuing education credit awarded by the Medical Library Association (MLA). This course is on the list of approved courses for the MLA Consumer Health Specialization Program (http://www.mlanet.org/education/chc/).

Greater Midwest Region

Samanthi Hewakapuge, Consumer Health Coordinator, Fax Number 1(312)996-2226, Phone Number 1(312)996-7791

Midcontinental Region

Dana Abbey, Health Information Literacy Coordinator/Colorado, Health Information Literacy Coordinator/Colorado, Phone Number 1(303)724-2110

Barbara Jones, Network Membership and Missouri Liaison, Email Address jonesbarb@health.missouri.edu, Phone Number 1(573)884-5042

Marty Magee, Nebraska and Education Coordinator, Phone Number 1(402)559-7076

Middle Atlantic Region

Lydia Collins, Consumer Health Coordinator, Email Address lydia@pitt.edu, Fax Number 412-624-1515, Phone Number 412-624-1411

Pacific Northwest Region

Nikki Dettmar, Education and Assessment Coordinator, Email Address snydern@uw.edu, LinkedIn Username nicoledettmar, Phone Number 1(206)543-3409

Gail Kouame, Public Health Outreach Coordinator, Phone Number 1(206)221-3449

Pacific Southwest Region

Kay Deeney, Educational Services Coordinator, Fax Number 1(310)825-5389, Phone Number 1(310)206-0525

Kelli Ham, Consumer Health and Technology Coordinator, Fax Number 1(310)825-5389, Phone Number 1(310)825-1984

South Central Region

Emily Hurst, Technology Coordinator, Email Address emily.hurst@exch.library.tmc.edu, Phone Number 1(713)799-7880, Twitter Username @hurstej

Karen Vargas, Outreach and Evaluation Coordinator, Email Address karen.vargas@exch.library.tmc.edu, Phone Number 1(713)799-7198

Southeastern Atlantic Region

Terri Ottosen, Consumer Health Coordinator, Fax Number 1(410)706-0099, Phone Number 1(410)706-2855

Nancy Patterson, Community Outreach Coordinator, Phone Number 1(410)706-2855

Original Author

Jo-Ann Benedetti MA, MLS, AHIP, Manager of Information and Outreach Services at the Upper Hudson Library System in Albany, NY.