Health details on web ‘not reliable’

HEALTH information on the internet can be unreliable and website visitors need to be cautious, the professional body representing GPs warned yesterday.

With a quarter of internet users accessing health information, the Irish College of General Practitioners advised of the unreliability of some online services.

“The ICGP recognises the internet as an increasing part of how people manage their health and their lifestyles,” said Dr Brendan O’Shea, “but we would urge people to be careful in the way they use the information accessed.”

An EU survey confirmed an increase in number of people seeking online information on health matters.

However, the survey also showed that doctors and pharmacists remain the most important source of information.

It found that medical and health organisations such as the Red Cross were the most respected sources of health information, with 84% of people placing their trust in them.

Consumer associations were the second most important source, while governments, businesses and individual political parties were the least trusted sources. Less than 11% of people, it emerged, trust political parties when it came to issues dealing with health.

The survey, Improving Health Information and Knowledge, was one of the priorities of the EU’s Public Health Action Plan 2003-2008, which was launched by Commissioner David Byrne.

The Dublin-born EU Commissioner conceded: “The survey shows there’s a clear demand for online health information among European citizens. However, a large number of people are still unaware of the amount and reliability of health information which can be found on the web.”