Kid's First Pediatrics

19Jul2021

How to Know if Online Medical Information is Trustworthy

Parents today have access to more medical information than ever before. While many can use this to educate themselves, the truth is that there often seems to be just as much misinformation out there as there is valid information. As a parent, it’s your duty to not only do your research, but to figure out how to determine if the information you are reading is actually worth your time. Doing so requires following a few simple steps to determine if you’re getting your information from a valid source.

Understand the Source of Information

First and foremost, try to figure exactly from where the information comes from. Any information that comes from social media should be treated with at least a bit of suspicion. When you read a statement, start by figuring out if it comes from a health professional or from a published study. This will give you an idea of whether or not what you’re reading can be backed up by any actual medical science.

If the information does include a source, try to look at that source. Don’t be fooled by professional-sounding names – look into the organization that sponsored the information and try to determine if they have any biases. Many sources that peddle inaccurate information do so successfully because they have names that seem trustworthy, so check out their websites to see if they are legitimate.

Talk to Your Pediatrician

It’s also a good idea to think about the biases of the source of your information. Is this source usually trustworthy? Is it a source that generally has good medical information? Is this a source that is trying to sell you something or to convince you of something else? You need to ask all of these questions before you can commit to trusting the information from any source.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, take the time to discuss any information you find with your child’s pediatrician. Don’t go in with the idea that the doctor is trying to trick you – after all, he or she has a vested interest in keeping your child safe. Simply present the information to the doctor and see what he or she has to say. You might be surprised by how willing a doctor will be to help you with any medical concerns that you might present.

Kids Staff

Pediatrics

Kid's 1st PediatricsKnowledgeOnline Medical InformationParentsResearch

21Jun2021

Teamwork with Your Child’s Physician

It’s always important for a parent to be able to talk to his or her child’s physician. Doing so isn’t always easy, though, especially if you find yourself intimidated by the idea of talking with an expert about your child’s health. Taking the time to learn how to talk to a doctor is always a good idea, and following the steps below can help you to have a better relationship with your child’s pediatrician.

Be Direct

One of the biggest hurdles in talking to your child’s doctor is not ensuring that he or she knows that you want to talk about something. When you schedule an appointment for your child, make sure that you’re direct with the doctor about your concerns when he or she is in the room. It’s always better to talk to the pediatrician face-to-face and to be able to address things directly rather than waiting until later.

Be Specific

It’s also a good idea to bring as much specific information to your discussions as possible. If you feel like your child isn’t sleeping well, for example, you might want to specifically state about how often your child is waking up every night and how long it has been since your child has gotten a good night’s sleep. Your child’s doctor certainly doesn’t expect you to come in with a diagnosis, but he or she can always work better when he or she has more actionable information with which to work.

Remember, You Are a Team

Maybe the most important thing to remember, though, is that you and the child’s doctor are on the same team. Even if you don’t agree with him or her, you’re both working to make sure that your child is in the best possible health. As such, it’s always good to go in with the attitude that the two of you are going to work together and that your doctor’s advice is always in the interest of helping your child.