SEPTEMBER 10, 1998-vol30n3: Electronic Highways

VOLUME 30, NUMBER 3 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1998

Electronic Highways

The Cyberdoc is In

"While rapelling I got rope burns on my finger tips. How can I treat them?" "Can you give me information related to treatment of auto immune progesterone dermatitis?" "What is the source of the noise when you crack your knuckles? Is it the bone/cartilage or is it something else?" These three examples from the Medical Mall's Ask-a-Doc page (http://www.rain.org/~medmall/ask/asklandon.html) illustrate a growing trend on health-information Web sites-asking medical advice from qualified professionals online. Using e-mail and discussion lists, these Web pages are designed to provide personal answers from a qualified professional. Some sites maintain discussion lists or retain archives of questions. Other sites will post all questions asked, while some will post selected questions and provide personal replies.

A sampling of ask-a-doc sites is available from the Buffalo Free-Net Medical Center (http://freenet.buffalo.edu/medical/consumer.html#ask). Here you will find sites sponsored by leading medical institutions like the Mayo Clinic and Beth Israel Hospital, or individual health professionals who are online to help. It's not only doctors -there's Ask the Pharmacist and Ask the Dietician. Practically every medical specialty is represented somewhere on the Web highlighting a question-and-answer service.

Famous doctors also will let you test their medical knowledge. For all types of consumer health information you can ask Dr. Koop, the former surgeon general, on the Koop's Community Site (http://www.drkoop.com/splash.asp). You need to register to ask a question of the good doc, however. Complementary medicine guru, Dr. Andrew Weil, can be reached via his popular site, Ask Dr. Weil (http://www.drweil.com/). Dr. Weil's site features renowned sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer answering e-mail questions. You can ask Dr. Joyce Brothers a question, too, on Good Housekeeping's site (http://homearts.com/mail/ghmailj.htm).

When seeking information from the Web, especially health information, consider the reliability of the source. Just as you would critically evaluate written materials, apply that same careful eye to where the online information is originating. Most health-related Web sites carry a disclaimer that their information is not a substitute for a visit to your health professional; this is especially true for ask-a-doc sites. Use the information you gather wisely and in conjunction with your regular health care, and you can become a more informed medical consumer.

For assistance in connecting to the World Wide Web, contact the ASCIT Help Desk at 645-3542.

-Sue Neumeister and Lori Widzinski, University Libraries