The Patient's Internet Handbook

Quarterly Bulletin

November 2001

Well-aware
http://www.well-aware.co.uk

Another useful resource for health consumers, Well-aware provides information on numerous medical conditions. In addition to providing essential facts (what are the causes, treatment and prevention etc.) this site also provides more in-depth information about each condition. Recognising the importance or authorship and attribution, each entry contains a brief biography of the author, which includes the author's name, and current post.

The site also has a number of interactive tools, including one that helps you to determine when your child needs his/her immunisations http://www.well-aware.co.uk/tools/immunisations/index.htm) and a cigarette addiction quiz to see how your lifestyle is affected by smoking (http://www.well-aware.co.uk/tools/immunisations/index.htm).

Finally, the site hosts a number of discussion fourms on topics such as 'Women's health', 'Complementary therapy' and 'Depression'.


The Expert Patient
http://www.doh.gov.uk/healthinequalities/ep_report.pdf

Patients with long-term illnesses are to be given more power to manage their condition. The Expert Patient - A new approach to chronic disease management for the 21st Century, backed by a £2m investment, sets out how the NHS will help patients with chronic illnesses take more control over their own care.
The report found that people living with conditions such as asthma, diabetes mellitus, arthritis often possess a wealth of knowledge and experience about the management of their condition. Following the report's recommendations, groups will be set up to test how knowledge and skills can be shared.

Chief medical officer, Professor Liam Donaldson said:

"This will be an ambitious and challenging programme for the NHS. Thirty years ago, the very idea of patients taking a lead in their own treatments and therapy would simply have been out of the question. "It has long been recognised that people with chronic diseases have considerable knowledge and experience of their own illness. Research has shown that with proper training this can be turned into practical skills to enable the patient to play a bigger part in managing their own condition. The new programme will help to create a generation of patients who are empowered to take action with the health professional caring for them. Patients will receive the support to help them take more control of their own health and treatment, to make more appropriate use of health and social services and be more empowered."

Slimming soaps and more
According to a report on the BBC Web site <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1535000/1535311.stm> trading standing officials at Derbyshire County Council have issued a warning against "miracle" slimming products that can be ordered over the Internet.

This problem was referenced in the Patient's Internet Handbook (p. 144). In seems, however, that the slimming scams continue to be perpetrated. One product currently advertised claims to 'burn body fat whilst you are asleep'.

As with any health information you find on the Internet always look for the following:

  • Authorship
  • Attribution
  • Disclosure
  • Currency

Robert Kiley - 11 November 2001



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