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Making decisions about your health

It is not always easy to make decisions about what is best for your health.

The internet is full of information about health problems, diseases and illness, but how do you know if the information is reliable or accurate? The different ways to find advice, questions to ask about whether a website is reliable, and choosing a health professional are all discussed.

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There may be a number of options available to you when making decisions about your health, or if you need to manage or treat a condition. The best option for you needs careful assessment by you in consultation with your doctor. There are several factors and questions worth considering when assessing a healthcare decision:

Options
  • What are the options?
  • What could happen if you do nothing?
  • How much do your symptoms affect your quality of daily life?
  • What are the risks and benefits of each option?
  • How do the benefits and risks weigh up for you?
Information
  • Have you gathered enough information to make your decision?
  • Is the information reliable, up to date and based on medical evidence?
Advice
  • Have you discussed the options with a trusted health practitioner?
  • Have you discussed the options with others you trust?
You
  • What has worked for you in the past?
  • What does your own knowledge and experience tell you is the right choice for you?
  • Does the choice fit with your personal values?
Others
How will your decision affect your family or partner?
Next steps

Do you need counselling to assist you to put your decision into action?

Internet health information

The internet gives women access to health information and education tools. The internet offers you the opportunity to:

  • get more information about a diagnosed condition
  • get more information about a medical treatment
  • search for alternative treatments
  • seek support from others who have the same condition
  • look for patient-support programs.

To assist you in making decisions about your health, you need to be able to assess which websites offer reliable information.

Website reliability checker

To assess which organisations and websites offer more reliable information, you can check a website against the following criteria:

Who owns the website?

Indicators the website is less reliable

  • The website is owned by a business with a product to sell
  • The website has been sponsored by a business with a product to sell

Indicators the website is more reliable

The website is a government health website, eg, Better Health Channel, Healthdirect Australia, or a not-for-profit website

Why has the website been created?

Indicators the website is less reliable

  • The website offers an online diagnosis tool
  • The website offers treatment

Indicators the website is more reliable

The focus of the website is information, education and access to further resources about health conditions

How easy is it to understand the information?

Indicators the website is less reliable

The information seems confusing, with a lack of attention to detail and accuracy

Indicators the website is more reliable

The information seems clear, accurate and authoritative

Is the information up to date?

Indicators the website is less reliable

  • There is no statement about when the information was last reviewed and/or updated
  • The website says the information was last reviewed and/or updated more than two years ago

Indicators the website is more reliable

The website identifies the date the content was last reviewed and updated, and it was less than two years ago

How reputable is the source of information?

Indicators the website is less reliable

  • The website has no HONcode certification*
  • The website does not provide easily accessible contact details
  • Neither the editorial policy nor the authors' experience in health and medical information is identified

Indicators the website is more reliable

  • The website has HONcode certification*
  • The website provides easily accessible contact details
  • The editorial policy and the authors' experience in health and medical information is identified

Is the information supported by evidence-based practice?

Indicators the website is less reliable

Recommendations for the management or treatment of a health condition are not supported by references to medical research about the effectiveness of the treatment.

Indicators the website is more reliable

Recommendations for the management or treatment of a health condition are supported by references to medical research about the effectiveness of the treatment.

*The HONcode is a code of ethics used by a website to provide the public with quality, objective and transparent medical information. It is overseen internationally by the Swiss not-for-profit organisation, Health on the Net Foundation (HON).

Ask your doctor

The internet is a great source of information to help you manage or research a condition or treatment, but it is not reliable for self-diagnosis or self-treatment of a health problem. If you have symptoms that worry you, if you are not sure about the reliability of the information you have found on the internet or if you find medical information you think is relevant to you, seek advice from your doctor.

Choosing a doctor or other health professional

Ideally, you need a health professional you can talk to and trust to give you good advice. Asking the following questions might help you to work out if your doctor is the right choice for you:

Expert
  • Do they have expertise in relation to your health concern?
  • Do they have qualifications and/or accreditation/registration in the areas they will be advising you about?
Accessible
  • How easy will it be for you to travel to them for an appointment?
  • Do they offer appointments at times that work for you?
  • Is the cost of an appointment acceptable?
Respectful
  • Do they listen to you in a way that suits you?
  • Do they talk with you in a way that suits you?
  • Do they ensure you are involved in the decisions to be made about your health care?

Appointments with doctors & other health professionals

It is not always easy to make a relationship work, especially if people are time poor, unfocused or do not receive the information they need and want from each other. This awareness applies to relationships with health professionals, too. There are easy things you can do to help ensure your doctor and you have constructive conversations.

Focus
  • Be clear about your needs when you make your appointment
  • If you have several health concerns, ask for a longer appointment, or make more than one appointment
Time
  • Call ahead to see if the doctor is running on time
  • Allow additional time for unexpected delays
Information

Take a list of:


  • your medications
  • past operations
  • medical conditions
  • recent tests
  • supplements or herbal products you are taking
  • how much alcohol you drink a week
  • if you are still smoking, how many per day

Further resources

Further information is available:

This web page is designed to be informative and educational. It is not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace advice from your health practitioner. The information above is based on current medical knowledge, evidence and practice as at October 2018.

Last updated: 26 August 2023 | Last reviewed: 11 October 2018

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