Supporting families' savvy use of the Internet for health research

An increasing number of health care consumers are using the Internet for health-related research through Web sites, newsgroups, chat rooms, and listserves. This use of the Internet can be empowering for consumers. It encourages both collaboration and a family-centered approach to care and could contribute to improved outcomes and cost savings. At the same time, care and caution are needed regarding interpretation of health-related information obtained on the Internet. Nurses can help consumers become Internet savvy and learn ways to evaluate the likelihood that information they find on the Internet is from a reputable site. First, health care consumers using the Web should be encouraged to be skeptical and to approach Internet health research with a clear list of questions that can be used to evaluate Internet sites. Second, several on-line "site-checkers" can be applied to achieve a similar evaluation. A third approach is to look for the emblem of the Health on the Net Foundation's voluntary Code of Conduct (HONCode) for medical and health Web sites. Finally, open, collaborative relationships among health care consumers, families, and health care providers will encourage a discussion of the relevance and applicability of an individual's Internet research findings to the medical or nursing care plan.