- The reference interview
NETNEWS
- Healthfinder web site updated.
- Code of conduct for health information providers.
- Locating information about doctors.
- Something to sneeze about.
- Updated information on hepatitis.
- Information about leukemia
- Breast cancer resources
- Health information for children from the FDA.
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
- The alternative medicine sourcebook: realistic evaluations of alternative healing methods.
- Cancer combat : cancer survivors share their guerrilla tactics to help you win the fight of your life.
- Encyclopedia of healing therapies.
- The green pharmacy : new discoveries in herbal remedies for common diseases and conditions
- Third opinion: an international directory to alternative therapy centers for the treatment and prevention
A young man approaches the reference desk in your library and asks "Where is the Internet?"
In busy libraries, the temptation may be to dismiss this person with what a colleague of mine always referred to as "semaphore reference" - you know, arms waving directing the person to where in the library he could find what he wanted. Most of us, however, would call upon our reference interviewing skills, ask a few open ended questions, and learn that this simple question is more than what it appears.
In this situation, the young man had recently been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis. A friend suggested to him that he search the Internet to find out about the disease. As a response, you could direct him to your Internet work station and get him started on how to search for the information. Alternative responses, however, might be a suggestion that a number of print reference sources in your library may be the best place to look for this information. Another option would be to find out what he wants to know and then contact Healthnet to research the question. To some this may sound like heresy - suggesting alternatives to what the patron requested. In this instance, however, this is practicing good librarianship - calling upon years of experience and a knowledge and understanding of many different kinds of resources to help someone find answers to questions - questions he may not even know he has at that particular moment.
Back to the Table of Contents
HEALTHFINDER UPDATE
Healthfinder , the U.S. federal government’s gateway to consumer health information. has made significant changes to their web site in the last few months.
Healthfinder has added a section for special audiences with information for children, teens, adults, seniors, and minorities. Also new is "Smart Choices" a section that offers tips and tools for preventing illness, taking care of yourself and your family, finding quality care, recognizing health fraud, and identifying sound health information on the Internet. Popular health topics now have their own sections and new search capabilities have been added.
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR HEALTH INFORMATION PROVIDERS
Health On the Net Foundation(HON) is a non-profit organization, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The mission of HON is to "… build and support the international health and medical community on the Internet and WWW so that the potential benefits of this new communications medium may be [realized] by individuals, medical professionals and healthcare providers." In response to concerns raised about the quality of health information on the Internet, HON developed a set of principles which can be used as guidelines to help unify the quality of medical and health information available on the World Wide Web. The principles were developed in consultation with web masters and patient groups.
The principles cover the authority and purpose of the site, currency of information, maintenance of the web site, references to source data, medical claims, disclosure of sources of funding for the web site, and use of advertising. Any web site subscribing to the eight principles may display the HON logo.
Although rating systems for doctors and other health professionals are still not available on the Internet, there are a number of resources a person can use to locate background information such as credentials, education, specialties and, for some states, malpractice claims. Most of these sites have been featured in past issues of Healthnet News.
AMA Physician Select from the American Medical Association is the on-line version of the organization’s directory of its members. This on-line database provides information on virtually every licensed physician in the United States and its possessions, including more than 650,000 doctors of medicine (MD) and doctors of osteopathy or osteopathic medicine (DO). All physician information has been verified for accuracy and authenticated by accrediting agencies, medical schools, residency training programs, licensing and certifying boards, and other data sources.
Searches of the database may be made by either name or medical specialty. The information for each physician includes name, address, telephone numbers, place and date of graduation from medical school, residencies, current specialties, and board certifications.
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) web site offers two distinct services to the public. One is the "CertifiedDoctor Verification Service" which allows individuals to verify free of charge the certification status of any physician certified by the 24 member boards of the ABMS. This service allows individuals to locate by specialty and geographic (zip code) location any physician certified by a Member Board of the ABMS. Besides information on how to contact each physician, the service also includes information about hospital and health plan affiliations and links to a physician's web site.
The Association of State Medical Board Executive Directors maintains a database on its web site of 450,000 licensed doctors and osteopaths. A link is provided to each State licensing agency that maintains a home page and an on-line database of its licensed practitioners. Currently, 14 state licensing boards are included (Connecticut is not). Although each web site for individual states is a little different, basic information on each health professional is fairly uniform. As an example, the profiles for Massachusetts physicians includes a business address, medical school and date of graduation, post graduate training, specialties, honors and awards, professional publications, and disciplinary actions, such as criminal convictions and hospital discipline.
Information on Connecticut physicians is included at the AMA Physician Select site and the ABMS site. The Connecticut Bureau of Regulatory Services reports on disciplinary actions taken against licensed health practitioners in the state. These reports are located on the State of Connecticut homepage and can be found under the heading "Public Health, Department", then select "Guidelines and Reports - or you can go directly to the reports.
SOMETHING TO SNEEZE ABOUT
Want to know what’s making your eyes water, your nose run, and your throat tickle? Check out the information on the National Allergy Bureau web site. Not only can you get pollen and spore counts for anywhere in the United States, you can also view full-color photos of the culprits that are making your life so miserable. The Bureau also provides a listing of the certified pollen counting stations in the United States. You can also get local pollen and mold counts by calling 1-800-9-POLLEN.
The National Allergy Bureau information is part of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) web site . Other features of this site of interest to the public are a physician locator and referral service, information on the diagnosis and treatment of allergies, asthma, and immunological diseases, and links to other related sites.
UPDATED INFORMATION ON HEPATITIS
The National Digestive Disease Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) has produced five new publications on hepatitis in response to interest in viral hepatitis and the National Institute’s Consensus Development Conference on hepatitis C which was held in March 1997. Three of the publications are brochures written specifically for the public. The other two are fact sheets written for the health professional but which may be of interest to the public. The publications are available on-line at . A complete report of the Consensus Conference is also available.
The three brochures for the public are "What do I need to know about Hepatitis A?", What do I need to know about Hepatitis B?", and "What do I need to know about Hepatitis C?". All are easy to read booklets and provide basic information about the causes, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these common types of viral hepatitis. "Vaccination for Hepatitis A and B" is a one page reference for health care providers that indicates vaccination schedules and doses for these diseases. "Chronic Hepatitis C: current disease management" is written for health care providers who want the latest information about managing this difficult disease.
A single print copy of each booklet and fact sheet is available free to the public. Contact: NDDIC, ATTN:Hep, 2 Information Way, Bethesda, MD 20892-3570; telephone (301)654-3810.
INFORMATION ABOUT LEUKEMIA
The Leukemia Society of America (LSA) has educational information and publications for patients and their families on the different types of leukemia, as well as lymphoma and multiple myeloma. LSA is a national voluntary health agency dedicated to curing leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to improving the quality of life for patients and their families.
Full-text publications include a fact sheet on leukemia, pamphlets of six pages each on multiple myeloma, Hodgkin’s disease, and lymphomas. More extensive information in the form of booklets describe the symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, and prognosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkins lymphoma, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome, and hairy cell leukemia. Other topics in the series include coping with the emotional aspects of childhood leukemia and understanding chemotherapy.
All of these publications are available full-text on the Leukemia Society web site. Some may be downloaded as a Word 6 documents or in PDF format. Several publications are available in Spanish. In addition, publications print copies of these publications as well as others on various topics may be ordered on-line.
The National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO), a network of breast cancer organizations, provides information, assistance and referral to anyone with questions about breast cancer and acts as a voice for the interests and concerns of breast cancer survivors and women at risk.
Titles in NABCO’s fact sheet series include "How to get the best mammogram", "Managed care and breast cancer: who’s in charge?", "Genetic testing update", and "Myths and facts about breast cancer risk". Also included is a directory of local breast cancer self-help groups, information about current clinical research trials, and links to other breast cancer resources.
The National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) is a grassroots advocacy effort in the fight against breast cancer. In 1991, the Coalition was formed with one mission - to eradicate breast cancer through action and advocacy. The aim of NBCC’s web site is to help individuals join the fight against breast cancer by offering information on the organization’s goals and accomplishments, the legislative agenda and political campaign, current program offerings such as a Clinical Trials Project and Project LEAD, an innovative science project to educate breast cancer advocates.
The American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Network offers general information about the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of breast cancer as well as information on breast cancer statistics, risk factors for breast cancer, and what’s new in breast cancer research and treatment.
Oncolink, the best web site for cancer information, is an excellent resource for breast cancer. Oncolink includes state of the art treatment protocols for breast cancer as well as information on coping, shared experiences of patients and survivors, the latest clinical research trials, recent news about breast cancer, and information on prevention and screening. For links to this information, select "Disease Oriented Menus", then "Adult Cancers", and then "Breast Cancer".
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization provides information and support to anyone who has been touched by breast cancer. Founded in 1978, Y-ME offers a national toll-free hotline, open door groups, early detection workshops and peer support.
Y-ME’s web site has full-text information on many aspects of breast cancer. Titles of their publications include "Frequently asked questions about breast cancer", "Breast self-examination", "When the woman you love has breast cancer", and "For single women with breast cancer". Several titles are available on-line in Spanish. Single, free print copies of publications may also be ordered on-line. Links are also provided for other breast cancer web sites and support groups.
HEALTH INFORMATION FOR CHILDREN FROM THE FDA
The FDA Kids Homepage features a kids quiz on food safety, a tobacco quiz, information about vaccines, and a food safety coloring book. The star of this new web site by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is Yorick, the FDA’s "favorite skeleton". Yorick allows users to see the various parts of the body that can be replaced by medical devices and implants. Included are such parts as a glass eye, a silicone cochlear implant, an artificial hip and knee, and an artificial heart.
A Parents’ Corner offers information on topics such as preventing poisoning in children, how to give medicine to children, and how folate can prevent birth defects.
The following recently published books may be of interest to public libraries and health sciences libraries that have consumer health collections. These books are not part of the Health Center Library collection.
The alternative medicine sourcebook: realistic evaluations of alternative healing methods. Steven Bratman. Lowell House, 1997. 260 p. (ISBN1-56565-626-1), $27.00.
Among many new titles recently published on alternative medicine, this book is offered as a useful guide for those interested in alternative treatments but unsure as to whether a specific treatment is right for them. Stephen Bratman, a licensed medical doctor and an advocate of both complementary and conventional medicine, examines the various forms of alternative medicine, including naturopathy, homeopathy, Chinese medicine, massage, and acupuncture. He describes each of the therapies and its origins and the methods each uses to treat diseases and medical conditions. Brief descriptions of 24 common illnesses are given with a discussion of how each may be treated using one or more of the alternative modalities.
Additional sections discuss how to find qualified practitioners, how alternative therapies complement standard medical treatments, and the myths and realities of unconventional treatments. Also included is a bibliography and a directory of organizations. Although Dr. Bratman has written a readable guide on alternative therapies, this book has little to offer that is different from other similar titles. The encyclopedia of alternative medicine edited by Jennifer Jacobs (reviewed in the Winter 1996 issue of Healthnet News) and The encyclopedia of healing therapies by Anne Woodham and David Peters (see review below) offer somewhat more complete coverage of the individual therapies as well as colorful illustrations and photographs
Cancer combat : cancer survivors share their guerrilla tactics to help you win the fight of your life. Dean and Jessica King and Jonathan Pearlroth. Bantam Books, 1998. 416 p. (ISBN 0-553-37845-7), $11.95.
More than 100 cancer survivors offer observations and helpful advice based on their experience battling cancer. Personal signed entries are arranged in sections that correspond with the different stages of illness and treatment. Diagnosis, hospital care, radiation, chemotherapy, complementary treatments, psychological support, self-care, spiritual issues, and recovery are all covered in highly personal accounts by the survivors. Some issues not covered in other similar cancer recovery books include dealing with chemotherapy induced baldness and telling others about your cancer diagnosis.
Dean King, a survivor of Hodgkin’s disease, and lawyer Pearlroth, who survived non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma interviewed cancer survivors and health professionals who care for cancer patients to gather material for this book. Their report offers personalized accounts unmatched in many other books about cancer, yet the accounts by the survivors provide practical advice and insights into what it means to battle the war against the disease. Highly recommended as a supplement to the many factual sources of cancer information.
Encyclopedia of healing therapies. Anne Woodham and David Peters. Dorling Kindersley, 1997. 336 p. ()-7894-1984-X), $39.95.
This attractive and readable guide offers information on over 90 therapies outside of the mainstream of conventional medicine. It prefaces the descriptions with a chapter defining alternative and complementary therapies. A chapter on the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle includes a questionnaire to help the reader assess different aspects of life that can affect health. Brief essays are also offered on the value of exercise, good nutrition, exercise, and stress management.
Each description of the individual therapies covers the history of the therapy, its key principles, research on its efficacy, how the therapy is currently regarded by conventional doctors, and self-help techniques. Ratings symbols provide a quick overall assessment of each therapy. Colorful, annotated illustrations provide additional information and add to visual appeal.
The second part of the book covers alternative treatments for specific diseases and medical conditions. The information is arranged by body systems and special topics such as men’s health and women’s health. The information provided is a brief overview and rating of the possible treatments for the condition. A directory of useful organizations to contact, a glossary, and a bibliography are also included.
The green pharmacy : new discoveries in herbal remedies for common diseases and conditions. James A. Duke. Rodale Press, 1997. 507 p. (ISBN 0-87596-316-1), $27.95.
This guide to medicinal plants and herbs, written by a botanist who is a noted authority on medicinal plants, guides the reader through the maze of remedies for specific kinds of diseases and medical conditions. Part One is devoted to a general discussion on the use of medicinal plants and herbs. Dr. Duke cautions readers about the safe use of these natural products, noting specific precautions during pregnancy and for those who have allergies. He also offers advice on how to shop for herbal products, and how to grow and harvest your own crop.
Part Two consists of essays on herbs and herbal remedies in which a rating system is applied to indicate which ones are the most effective for each of the diseases and health problems. Dr. Duke is not shy in stating his subjective opinion of the use of the different herbs. Although he mentions studies on specific herbs, he doesn’t supply any references. Most of the topics covered are common ailments, with a few descriptions of more chronic diseases such as arthritis and Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Duke’s down to earth style makes this a highly readable book. He adds additional interest by including recipes for soups and drinks using the herbs under discussion. Although this can serve as a useful guide for those interested in exploring non traditional, drug-free remedies for common ailments and diseases, its value is diminished by a lack of references.
Third opinion: an international directory to alternative therapy centers for the treatment and prevention of cancer & other degenerative diseases. John M. Fink. 376 p. (ISBN 0-89529-770-1), $16.95.
This directory offers information about alternative and complementary treatment centers for cancer and other chronic diseases such as arthritis, Alzheimer’s, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Entries are arranged alphabetically and include the address, telephone number, contact person, background of the center, illnesses treated, information services offered, and costs and method of payment for services. Access to the information by specific disease is through an extensive index.
The author, a former actor, lost a daughter to cancer and turned his energies to serving as a board member of the International Association of Cancer Victors and Friends. He also served as a member of the Advisory Panel for the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment’s study on unconventional cancer treatments.
The information does not include an assessment of the efficacy of the therapies offered by the treatment centers. A chapter on guidelines for choosing a therapy offers helpful advice on selecting a therapy best suited to individual needs and priorities. A useful guide for those interested in pursuing treatments outside of mainstream medicine.
This is an edited version of the newsletter sent to Connecticut public libraries and paid subscribers
(c) 1998 University of Connecticut Health Center. All rights reserved.
UPDATE
NET NEWS
LOCATING INFORMATION ABOUT DOCTORS
BREAST CANCER RESOURCES
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION