Can Nurses Help Combat Quackery on Web?

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jan 28, 2008

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pagandeva2000, LPN · Jan 28, 2008

I think we can do this by educating ourselves with reliable resources and having the information ready when questions come up. immunize.org is a wonderful site with information about the common concerns of vaccines. I am actually in the process of making a notebook of valuable information to share with patients I teach. I have downloaded a great deal of information from them about thimrosal (did I spell it right) and autism along with vaccine statements to share when I go do teaching at health fairs. I try not to blow off suspicions about medications, but attempt to educate benefits and side effects and leaving the decision up to the patient or guardian when the situation presents itself.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jan 28, 2008

NRSKaren; I really appreciate your sharing this website. I placed it in my favorites with the intention of using it at work and sharing with my collagues.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jan 28, 2008

I do think that creating an educational site on YouTube would be a nice idea. If a quack can post something there, why not you?

cynharrer · Jan 28, 2008

Thanks NRSKaren and Pagandeva! It is great to talk to like-minded health professionals. Thanks for the good websites, NRSKaren. It is so important to keep up with these topics, because we will be asked. We are expected to be well informed. There is a guy on Youtube who puts out pro-vaccine videos. (He is in the minority) The production quality is not the greatest, but he is smart and explains the basic points very well. If the link doesn't work, try searching Youtube for Warthaug vaccines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_T0nJnXl70

kcochrane · Jan 28, 2008

Its easy for anti vaxers to get their message across. The diseases that vaccines protect against are not seen these days. New parents have not seen the dangers of the diseases and wonder if the risks are worth the benefits. Its too bad that something once thought of as a life saver is now considered "bad". I'm glad that you are out there trying to get the correct information out. I spend many years on chat boards trying to get some sense through, but found many just don't want to hear.

One other scary site that is out there is a mothering site that encourages unassisted home births. The problem is that if anyone tries to log on with advice that is against unassisted births, they are quickly banned.

The internet can be a very informative thing..but in some cases it can be harmful.

CRNAGAL · Jan 28, 2008

I've found that people at those types of sites are very adamant in their views and will quickly shoot down any attempt to dispel their myths or any opinion that doesn't support their cause. As a poster said earlier, its better to have an understanding of the misinformation that is out there on the internet, and to educate the public one patient at a time.

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 28, 2008

I've found that people at those types of sites are very adamant in their views and will quickly shoot down any attempt to dispel their myths or any opinion that doesn't support their cause. As a poster said earlier, its better to have an understanding of the misinformation that is out there on the internet, and to educate the public one patient at a time.

I agree. Personally, I would find trying to argue with someone like that akin to trying to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and annoys the pig!!

I try to use my opportunities when I'm in a one-on-one situation with someone who has questions or concerns but is willing to listen. That goes for vaccines, the herbal miracle cures someone's cousin is selling, and so forth.

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 28, 2008

Its easy for anti vaxers to get their message across. The diseases that vaccines protect against are not seen these days. New parents have not seen the dangers of the diseases and wonder if the risks are worth the benefits. Its too bad that something once thought of as a life saver is now considered "bad".
The internet can be a very informative thing..but in some cases it can be harmful.

You are very right! I wonder sometimes if people now think that things like polio and diphtheria are myths or old wives' tales, or if they think that those things just cannot recur. If anyone is interested, the internet is a great source of statistics and information about just how bad some of these diseases were, how many children were affected.

People have forgotten that losing children to illnesses was once a much more common occurrence than it is now.

My grandparents lost two children to what are now considered vaccine-preventable diseases. I sometimes wonder what their perspective would be concerning vaccines.

cynharrer · Jan 28, 2008

Personally, I would find trying to argue with someone like that akin to trying to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and annoys the pig!!

I love it! That analogy actually makes me feel a lot better. Excellent advice. :lol2:

kcochrane · Jan 28, 2008

That is a good analogy.