WebMD Ready Reference

WebMDInformation without Panic

Faith EichhorstMLIS 704

You’ve heard the jokes….

Source:http://www.quickmeme.com/WebMDhttps://memeexplorer.com/internet-memes/i-dont-always/i-dont-always-look-at-webmd/1053

WebMD is the leading health publisher in the United States

206 million unique users every month Accredited since 2001for health content,

security, and privacy Award-winning medical information Over 100 doctors and health experts

nationwide provide content

…but WebMD can be useful.

Sources:http://www.webmd.com/about-webmd-policies/about-who-we-arehttp://www.webmd.com/about-webmd-policies/awardshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebMDhttps://accreditnet2.urac.org/UracPortal/Directory/CompanyView/2774/

They can be fun and useful They can also increase stress by listing too

many things to worry about They’re used as a way to increase page

views and engage visitors but aren’t central to WebMD’s main purpose

Ignore the articles and slideshows

Health A-Z Drugs & Supplements Symptom Checker

WebMD has 3 main tools

Health A-Z

Link is found at the top of the WebMD homepage, just next to the logo on the far left

“Common Topics” is good for browsing, but when researching a particular condition, click on “Health A-Z” for the most information

This will allow you to browse a complete directory of every medical condition that has an entry, from A1AT (alpha-1 antitrypsin) deficiency to Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (ZES)

Health A-Z

Source:http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/health-topics/default.htm

Each entry will take you through the basic information you’ll need to understand/identify symptoms, know who to talk to and when, treatment options, long-term prognosis, and outside sources for additional information or support. Each entry can also be read out loud by the computer.

Source:http://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/alpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency-rare#1

Major topics will have a “Health Center”- essentially a site within a site, that offers all the information of a basic entry but with extra resources, articles, related conditions, message boards, and suggested search terms

Source:http://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/alpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency-rare#1

Drugs & Supplements

Link is found at the top of the WebMD homepage, along the top bar

“Find a Drug” allows a search by other drug name (either generic or name brand) or condition

Users can learn more about a drug they were just prescribed or browse the medicines recommended most for a particular condition

The “Pill Identification Tool” is also extremely useful

Drugs & Supplements

Source:http://www.webmd.com/drugs/index-drugs.aspx

If unsure about the spelling of a drug, the search box will suggest auto-completes while typing or the “Drugs & Medications A-Z” provides easy browsing

Source:http://www.webmd.com/drugs/index-drugs.aspx

If unsure of spelling or the drop-down suggestions, type in what is known of the medicine name and then an asterix “*” to find all medications that begin with those letters.

Source:http://www.webmd.com/drugs/search.aspx?stype=drug&query=lisinopr*&source=2

Source:http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-6873-9371/lisinopril-oral/lisinopril---oral/details

Each medication’s entry will include uses, side effects, precautions, interactions, overdose information, images, and user reviews.

Source:http://www.webmd.com/my-medicine/default.htm#

Selecting “I want to save to My Medicine” will take users to a feature where they can check interactions between different medicines, or medicines and vitamins or supplements.

Source:http://www.webmd.com/pill-identification/default.htm#

The “Pill Identification Tool” is also an invaluable way to quickly identify a medication, particularly in the event of a spill or unmarked bottles.

Source:http://www.webmd.com/drugs/index-drugs.aspx

The Drugs & Supplements search can also be used to see which medications are recommended for different conditions.

Symptom Checker

Link is found at the top of the WebMD homepage, above the main bar

A unique feature among medical sites and can be complicated

Zip code and e-mail address are entirely optional; zipcode is used to recommend relevant doctors nearby

Symptom Checker

Source:http://symptoms.webmd.com/default.htm#introView

Click on the body part(s) that is in pain, select symptom(s), and choose a possible condition to explore.

Source:http://symptoms.webmd.com/default.htm#symptomsView

Source:http://symptoms.webmd.com/default.htm#symptomsView

Common complaints, such as sore throat, may prompt a brief survey to add more details.

Source:http://symptoms.webmd.com/default.htm#symptomsView

Select a result (ranked by match) to view the full entry.

Similar to Health A-Z, each entry will provide an overview, symptoms, risk factors, prevalence, prevention, treatment, when to see a doctor, and more.

Browse other possible conditions or edit symptoms for more answers.

WebMD is not a substitute for proper medical advice

Some skeptics even think it deliberately exaggerates the severity of potential conditions in order to encourage users to follow-up with a real healthcare provider

Approaching a medical issue from multiple angles- name of condition or medicine, a combination of symptoms, or just identifying the medicine taken by a friend or relative can go a long way towards building confidence in one’s own self care and health

When in doubt, call your doctor

WebMD - Better information. Better health. (n.d.). Retrieved October 29, 2016, from http://www.webmd.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebMD https://accreditnet2.urac.org/UracPortal/

Directory/CompanyView/2774/ http://www.quickmeme.com/WebMD https://memeexplorer.com/internet-memes/i-

dont-always/i-dont-always-look-at-webmd/1053

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