Journal Entry 6: Knowledge Journal Entry 6: Knowledge Discovery and Management/Alanna Schauer

                                                                                                 Alanna M. Schauer

                                                                                                Journal Entry 6: Knowledge

                                                                                                Discovery and Management

Keiser, B. E. (2012). Quality patient education materials on the web. Online, 36(6).

http://resources.njstatelib.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=83699389&site=ehost-live

            The article was chosen because it met many of the objectives of knowledge discovery and their associated concepts. It discusses the application of knowledge to create value which is the essential element of learning and the trends associated with this learning. This was an excellent article of determining how to obtain quality patient education and the author’s struggle to verify this information.

            This article is an opinion culminated from an extensive search of internet resource sites starting with Trust it or Trash it. It is also a product review of many of consumer health sites like NetWellness and MedTango. The author did their own systematic review and weeded out the non credible websites. Then the author identified patient education materials and the tools that were specific to an illness or subject matter that needs to be taught.

            The need is that with millions of Americans searching the Internet for medical information and health problem answers it is vital to have sites with proper information that can be verified. An estimated eighty-six percent of adult people use the internet for health information compared to 28-41%, who consults with their primary health care providers, (Weber, Derrico, Yoon, & Sherwill-Navarro, 2009).  You could propose that many internet users will accept web based health recommendations instead of confiding in their primary physician.  People can be embarrassed to admit they had certain problems or ailments so they do research on their own and the quality of the websites is questionable.

            The solution from this systematic review is the author created a comprehensive list of consumer health sites with the explanation of their specific features that make them credible. It is a reference guide to obtaining information that can be very useful for patients and their families about numerous illness and medical issues. A strategy for reviewing health sites and patient teaching material was explained and promoted for standardization of patient education on medical illness.

            This is important for healthcare delivery because patients are utilizing the internet for many of their health questions and they do not always locate the most credible resources. For medical professionals, this article listed many health sites and reputable patient education resources and provided definitive steps and strategies for keeping patient education material current and maintaining best practice.

            I learned where to find credible resources for patient education material.  The article provided a valuable list of resources to utilize when patient ask for medical information sites.

It is also useful for nurses looking for information on a health topic.

                                                              Reference

Weber, B., Derrico, D. J., Yoon, S. L., & Sherwill-Navarro, P. (2010). Educating patients to

evaluate web-based health care information: the GATOR approach to healthy surfing. Journal Of Clinical Nursing, 19(9/10), 1371-1377. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02762.x