Growing up, I remember watching the late-night ads on Spanish television, thinking “There is no way that really works.” It seems that everyone has a great idea or quick-fix solution for your health condition. I ask Hispanics to beware—not everything is as it seems. You have to be careful with who you trust, especially when it comes to online resources.
Health resources are no exception to this rule. Hispanics, especially those of older age, are less familiar with the Web and the danger that this vehicle presents. In general, people are very trusting of health information online. Entering a disease or condition in a search engine yields millions of search results. Finding out which ones are reliable can seem like a daunting task. However, there are some things you can do to tell if the source is reliable.
1. Whose site is it? Is this a reliable source? In other words, is the site written and reviewed by a medical or professional group, hospital system, or government heath agency?
2. Is the information biased? Is this site for or against a specific point of view?
3. Is the site up-to-date? When was the last time the information was updated or reviewed?
These three tips apply to written information as well. You may not think twice about doubting the information you read in a pamphlet you picked up at your local clinic. I encourage everyone to ask themselves one question first: “What is the purpose of this?” Is the purpose to get you to buy something or to promote a certain point of view? Or is the purpose to just provide information based on research, trends, and statistics? When in doubt, bring information to the attention of your doctor or health care provider.
Tips for Hispanics:
•Know when to ask for help! Have someone you trust—and who has your best interest in mind—help you search for health information using the tips above.
•Don’t be afraid to ask someone to translate for you. Be careful when using online translation tools like Babblefish or Google Translate. These tools are handy, but know that they are not 100% accurate. Once sentence out of order and you could end up with a serious health problem.
•Ask your doctor—not your friends—for medical advice. We all have our home remedies that have worked for us, our mother and grandmother, or someone who knows someone else. Some of these home remedies could be extremely harmful to your health. Please ask a doctor first and share your home remedies with him/her. You may be surprised to hear there is medical truth behind them!
For more information about safety on the web, visit http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/healthywebsurfing.html.
Good luck and healthy wishes,
Stacy Allen
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