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Finding Reliable Health Information on
the InternetOverview of MedlinePlus.gov
Christine Caufield-Noll, MLIS, AHIP
Community Health Library
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Summer 2012
Where is the first place you go on
the Internet for health information?
When looking for reliable, high-
quality health information on the
Internet, the first place to start is…
MedlinePlus information is…
• Accurate
• Current
• Reliable
• Reputable
• Written by health
professionals
• Available 24/7
• Easy to use
• Mirrored in Spanish
• No ads
• FREE – no login or
registration required
Health Topics page
Start here to
find more
information
on a disease
or condition
Health topics page
There are
four ways to
search
health topics:
1. Body
locations/
systems
2. Broad
categories
3. A-Z index
4. The
search box
1
3
2
4
Example: diabetes
Click on “D”
to see a
listing of all
topics
beginning
with that
letter
Example: diabetes
Scroll down
the
alphabetical
list of topics
until you find
diabetes
Example: diabetes
Click on the
link for the
diabetes
health topics
page
Example: diabetes
Health topics
pages
include a
summary, illu
strations, me
dical
encyclopedia
and a Start
Here section
Example: diabetes
Further
down the
page, the
main menu
organizes
the
information
and provide
links so you
can quickly
jump to the
section you
need
Example: diabetesMore of
the main
menu
Example: diabetes
Each link
opens a
new
window, so
MedlinePlus
is still
available
Transition to drug information
Scroll back
up to the top
of the page
and click on
the Drugs &
Supplements
button
Drug and supplement informationClick on the
first letter in
the drug’s
name
(Nexium)
Example: Nexium
Scroll down
to find the
name of the
drug
Example: Nexium
Click on the
link for
Nexium
In this
case, the
link is cross
referenced
with the
drug’s
scientific
name, Eso
me-prazole
Example: Nexium
This
information
is like that
which you’d
get from the
pharmacy
Use the
main menu
to navigate
the page
Use the print
icon to print
the
information, i
f desired
Print icon
Example: NexiumSide effects
of Nexium
Transition to supplementsScroll back
up the page
and click on
the Drugs &
Supplements
button again
Supplement information
Click on the
all herbs &
supplements
button
Example: fish oil
Example: fish oil
Example: fish oil
Example: fish oil
Example: fish oil
Transition to encyclopediaClick on the
MedlinePlus
image the at
the top of
page to
return to the
homepage
EncyclopediaScroll down
the page and
click on the
link that says
Medical
Encyclopedia
Example: poison ivyA good
resource for
students or
those who
need quick
information
or pictures
Example:
poison ivy
Example: poison ivy
Example: poison ivy
Example: poison ivyClick on an
image to see
a larger
version
Transition to dictionaryClick on the
MedlinePlus
icon to return
to the
homepage
DictionaryType in the
term and
click Go
Dictionary
Current health news
Current health news
Transition to Videos & Cool Tools
Go back to
the top of the
page and
click on the
Videos &
Cool Tools
button
Videos & Cool ToolsClick on
interactive
tutorials
These are
slideshows
with audio
on a
number of
conditions, t
ests and
wellness
topics
They also
have
printable
summaries
Videos & Cool Tools
Videos & Cool ToolsA new
window will
open and
there will be
3 choices:
Interactive
tutorial;
Self Playing
tutorial; or
Text
Summary
Videos & Cool Tools
Videos & Cool ToolsThe text
summary is
written in
plain
language
and often
includes
illustrations
Thank you!
Please call Christine at
410-550-0681 or email her
if you have any questions
