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Online Communities: Helpful If You're Careful We probably all have done it at some point — peered into a chat room or read through postings on a bulletin board. For some people, it is comforting to read the experiences of others. One can learn a lot about what feelings are common or "normal" as well as warning signs of potential problems. Benefits and Cautions However, despite the good online chat rooms and bulletin boards have to offer, there are still a lot of inaccurate diagnoses and misguided advice to be found there. As you consider the potential benefits of joining an Internet community listed below, make sure you also heed the cautions included: - Community support — In a way, it's like having a group of instant friends to consult. There are many stories of patients and parents who have found special comfort by sharing information with others who are going through the same thing.
- Caution No. 1 — Never give out personal information that can identify you or allow someone to contact you. While you may feel like contacting someone in person, you can put your personal and financial safety at risk by posting your personal information on the Internet.
- Rare conditions — By joining a bulletin board or visiting websites about rare conditions, you can learn how other people are being evaluated and treated. Since rare conditions are not as well studied or seen as often by physicians, you might learn a lot from someone else going through the same thing.
- New treatments — Both for rare and common conditions, you can find out about additional treatments that your health care professional might not have discussed with you.
- Caution No. 2 — Make sure that you discuss any new treatments or ways to self-treat with your health care professional before you try them at home. There may be reasons why in your case a different treatment won't work or could negatively interact with your other treatments.
- Practical advice — Someone's experience can offer others an excellent source of information. Many health care professionals can give you the facts on treatments but perhaps not the finer points of how to make them work.
- Caution No. 3 — Before taking action on any suggestions, call your doctor's office to inform him or her of what you are considering and why. Your doctor will let you know whether it's safe for you to try and may appreciate learning the tip to convey to other patients.
Additional Safety Tips - Advice online should never prevent you from calling your own health care professional. If your initial instinct was to call about a symptom or you were instructed to call for certain symptoms, do not let anyone persuade you not to do this.
- Listen if someone advises you to call a health care professional. Pay attention if an online contact encourages you to seek professional advice. It can't hurt and is safer to call.
Last updated February 07, 2008
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