August 27, 1999
By Dr. Elena Rios
Washington, D.C. — Junk science is as prolific as junk e-mail on the Internet. How do you sort the good from the bad, the true from the false? That's what a recent panel study commissioned by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services attempted to figure out.
It's an important issue now to tackle because of the proliferation of online health information. It's growing at such a rate that last year more than 22 million U.S. adults reported going online to find health information.
While it's encouraging to see as head of the National Hispanic Medical Association, that more people —including Hispanics— are going to the World Wide Web for health information, the Science Panel on Interactive Communication and Health (IHC) points out there are not only benefits of having health information on the Internet, there are also risks.
"IHC applications may result in inappropriate treatment, delays in care, damage to patient-provider relationships, violations of privacy and confidentiality, wasted resources, delayed innovation, unintended errors—and an increased technology and health gap," the panel said.
U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher also offered some insight: "To date, there has been little evaluation or quality control of interactive health communication because applications have been developed faster than the theory and assessment tools."
Without quality control, there is no way to know how accurate, current or relevant the medical information is from an Internet site. With few safeguards in place to prevent anyone with basic computer skills from creating a Web site and posting health-related information, it's hard to know when something is valid or invalid.
One thing is certain. There has been spurious and even alarming health information out there. They are wide-ranging, from the "dangers" of genetically engineered corn to cellular phones.
The almost medieval hysteria surrounding silicone breast implants is another example. Millions of women with implants feared they put themselves in imminent danger of developing autoimmune diseases and other maladies. But that hasn't been the case. In fact, the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences, recently declared breast implants safe. Those findings follow more than two dozen other studies that have soundly debunked claims that silicone or implants are associated in any way with major diseases.
There are also privacy issues to be considered. Doctor-patient confidentiality is a given when you visit your family physician. The panel also recommended that there be a move to adopt security protocols to protect an individual's right to privacy.
But on the Internet, you may be unknowingly providing extremely personal information to unauthorized third parties. There's even the danger of spreading misinformation by e-mail. Overall, there's no telling what could become of that information and how it could be misused.
Health professionals, including Hispanic doctors, can help direct patients to reliable online health sources by getting the word out. Hispanic also can help direct Spanish-language patients to legitimate and helpful health sites that are in Spanish.
While there are some risks, communicating over the Internet holds tremendous promise for the health care industry and the general public. Reduced costs, better access to information, added convenience and more options to choose from are just of the headline attractions of this emerging technology.
There are even sites devoted to countering the junk science tidal wave. Such sites provide a much-needed counterbalance to the ocean of urban legends, half-truths and false materials being spread online.
There will be growing pains as the Internet and all forms of online information retrieval and dissemination mature. These pains must be anticipated and dealt with appropriately by the parties most concerned — health care providers and those they serve.
Recommendations by the Department of Health and Human Services are a step in the right direction.
Dr. Elena Rios is president of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), a non-profit organization that represents Hispanic physicians and others dedicated to improving health care for Hispanics. Readers may contact Dr. Rios at the National Hispanic Medical Association, 1700 17th St. NW, Suite 405, Washington, D.C. 20009 or visit the NHMA Web site at http://home.earthlink.net/~nhma.
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