Dr. Internet

The Internet is quickly becoming the first choice of many healthcare consumers whenever they feel less than 100 percent. And why not? It is quick, easy, and you don’t have to leave home. I think it is great that people are doing the research because it educates them and prevents needless, costly visits to the hospital or doctor’s office. However, it is important that healthcare consumers are able to filter through all of the “junk” on the web to find reliable sources of information. Although the Internet cannot actually assess, diagnose, or treat you; however, it can help the reader identify their physical ailment and possibly some home treatments. This may not always be the best course of action, but for individuals without insurance that will not go to the doctor at least they are doing something. When using the internet as a medium for healthcare, consumers need to make sure they are using reliable sites such as mayo clinic, department of health, etc. Additionally, compare information from different sites to come to a conclusion.

Damman, O., Hendriks, M., Rademakers, J., Delnoij, D., & Groenewegen, P. (2009). How do healthcare consumers process and evaluate comparative healthcare information? A qualitative study using cognitive interviews. BMC Public Health, 9423. Retrieved from MEDLINE database.

Generic vs. Brand Name Drugs

For many drugs, the only delay on a generic form is the greed of pharmaceutical companies. They make deals with developers of the generic form to not “rush” their drug to the market allowing the pharmaceutical company to make more money even after their patent has expired. Additionally, generic drugs are not usually the first prescribed or encouraged. On the contrary, it becomes the consumer’s responsibility to inquire about the availability of a generic form in order to avoid paying ridiculous amounts of money for drugs they must have. In reference to the quality and safety of generic drugs, the Food and Drug Administration requires that generic drugs be as safe and effective as brand-name drugs. The reason that they are so cheap is because the companies producing the generic form do not have the research and development costs that the brand-name pharmaceutical companies did. The price does NOT reflect the quality, safety, or efficacy of the drug.

Becker, C. (2001). Drugmakers fight for good name. Stakes high, challenges many for providers who seek generic products. Modern Healthcare, 31(35), 28. Retrieved from MEDLINE database.