1. Finding Reliable Health Information on
the Internet
Overview of MedlinePlus.gov
Christine Caufield-Noll, MLIS, AHIP
Community Health Library
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Summer 2012

2. Where is the first place you go on
the Internet for health information?

3. When looking for reliable, high-
quality health information on the
Internet, the first place to start is…

4. MedlinePlus information is…
• Accurate • Easy to use
• Current • Mirrored in Spanish
• Reliable • No ads
• Reputable • FREE – no login or
• Written by health registration required
professionals
• Available 24/7

5. Health Topics page
Start here to
find more
information
on a disease
or condition

6. Health topics page
There are
four ways to
search
health topics:
1. Body
4
locations/
systems
2. Broad
3
categories
3. A-Z index
4. The
search box
1
2

7. Example: diabetes
Click on “D”
to see a
listing of all
topics
beginning
with that
letter

8. Example: diabetes
Scroll down
the
alphabetical
list of topics
until you find
diabetes

9. Example: diabetes
Click on the
link for the
diabetes
health topics
page

10. Example: diabetes
Health topics
pages
include a
summary, illu
strations, me
dical
encyclopedia
and a Start
Here section

11. 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

12. Example: diabetes
More of
the main
menu

13. Example: diabetes
Each link
opens a
new
window, so
MedlinePlus
is still
available

14. Transition to drug information
Scroll back
up to the top
of the page
and click on
the Drugs &
Supplements
button

15. Drug and supplement information
Click on the
first letter in
the drug’s
name
(Nexium)

16. Example: Nexium
Scroll down
to find the
name of the
drug

17. 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

18. Example: Nexium
This
information
is like that
which you’d
get from the Print icon
pharmacy
Use the
main menu
to navigate
the page
Use the print
icon to print
the
information, i
f desired

19. Example: Nexium
Side effects
of Nexium

20. Transition to supplements
Scroll back
up the page
and click on
the Drugs &
Supplements
button again

21. Supplement information
Click on the
all herbs &
supplements
button

22. Example: fish oil

23. Example: fish oil

24. Example: fish oil

25. Example: fish oil

26. Example: fish oil

27. Transition to encyclopedia
Click on the
MedlinePlus
image the at
the top of
page to
return to the
homepage

28. Encyclopedia
Scroll down
the page and
click on the
link that says
Medical
Encyclopedia

29. Example: poison ivy
A good
resource for
students or
those who
need quick
information
or pictures
Example:
poison ivy

30. Example: poison ivy

31. Example: poison ivy

32. Example: poison ivy
Click on an
image to see
a larger
version

33. Transition to dictionary
Click on the
MedlinePlus
icon to return
to the
homepage

34. Dictionary
Type in the
term and
click Go

35. Dictionary

36. Current health news

37. Current health news

38. Transition to Videos & Cool Tools
Go back to
the top of the
page and
click on the
Videos &
Cool Tools
button

39. Videos & Cool Tools
Click on
interactive
tutorials
These are
slideshows
with audio
on a
number of
conditions, t
ests and
wellness
topics
They also
have
printable
summaries

40. Videos & Cool Tools

41. Videos & Cool Tools
A new
window will
open and
there will be
3 choices:
Interactive
tutorial;
Self Playing
tutorial; or
Text
Summary

42. Videos & Cool Tools

43. Videos & Cool Tools
The text
summary is
written in
plain
language
and often
includes
illustrations

44. Thank you!
Please call Christine at
410-550-0681 or email her
at ccaufie1@jhmi.edu
if you have any questions