How to Find Reliable Information
Information is knowledge. And knowledge is power.
Getting educated about your child's condition and how studies work is often the first step toward making a decision.
There are lots of resources out there to help you get the facts you need to make a good decision; the Internet, families with similar concerns, medical experts, support groups, patient advocates, friends and family members as well as others.
The Internet is a powerful tool, but use it wisely. You want to be sure the information you're getting is trustworthy and true.- Look for who publishes the site. Is it reliable? Is it balanced? Focus on sites that end in .gov, .org or .edu as a place to start. Government sites like the National Institutes of Health (www.NIH.gov) and health organization sites like the American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org) are sites that you can trust for good information.
- Find the date when it was last updated. Is the information current?
- If it is a personal site make sure the information is credible. Is it a blog or opinion? Does it have references?
"...parents should research it first, go on the Internet, do a lot of research, weigh out the pros and the cons and then pick and see if the pros outweigh the cons..."
Bianca, child in kidney disease study
Bianca, child in kidney disease study
Remember, you're not alone.
"Many large studies have a study coordinator who's usually a nurse. People often find that it's easier to approach a nurse than a physician."
Dr. Gail Pearson, Pediatric Cardiologist
You can even ask the study team to put you in touch with other families who have faced the same decision. Connecting with families who have dealt with the same disease or who have been in a study can often help you.
Dr. Gail Pearson, Pediatric Cardiologist
"Then I did find some families that already had formed a support group...there were people. And so we got to actually meet some of the families and spend a week together. We'd see each other at the immune conferences."
Dawn, mother of child in chronic granulomatous disease study
And ask questions of your medical team - your primary care doctor, nurse, specialist or others involved in your child's care.
Dawn, mother of child in chronic granulomatous disease study
"I will ask the question first, 'Who is your primary care pediatrician' and get that individual involved. This is hopefully someone...who can provide both information to the [study] practitioner but also provide some level of comfort for the family as information is being given to them."
Dr. Joe Wright, Pediatrician
Dr. Joe Wright, Pediatrician
Previous
