Using Wikipedia and Google for medical information

Some interesting abstracts from PubMed:

"Google is an efficient web resource for identifying specific medical information." Google was more efficient than all other resources for identifying medical information (P less than 0.0001) http://bit.ly/6FXATW

Google Scholar versus PubMed in locating primary literature to answer drug-related questions: no major differences http://bit.ly/8OygYt

Wikipedia is not authoritative and should only be a "supplemental source" of drug information http://bit.ly/7qzZ7k

Does Wikipedia provide evidence-based health care information? http://bit.ly/4WVLHt - No. Who is surprised?

Personality characteristics of Wikipedia members: Introverted women more likely to be members than extroverted women http://bit.ly/8YfrXb

Mobile Websites from Pubmed: Search Abstracts and Find Disease Associations http://bit.ly/7ucyn5 - Works on Kindle too. The mobile MedlinePlus (for consumers) is at m.medlineplus.gov http://bit.ly/6jjkt3

Wikipedia: A Key Tool for Global Public Health Promotion (review article)

Image source: Doctors Using Google by Philipp Lenssen, used with permission.

Doctors add expert insights and comments about websites in Google Sidewiki

From Google:

"As you browse the web, it's easy to forget how many people visit the same pages and look for the same information. What if everyone, from a local expert to a renowned doctor, had an easy way of sharing their insights with you about any page on the web? What if you could add your own insights for others who are passing through?

Google Sidewiki allows you to contribute helpful information next to any webpage. Google Sidewiki appears as a browser sidebar, where you can read and write entries along the side of the page."



Here are two examples how doctors add expert insights and comments about websites in Google Sidewiki:

- Michael Roizen http://bit.ly/132azY

- Steven Nissen http://bit.ly/10HWLk

Both are prominent physicians at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic.

A few comments on this new Google service are posted below:

Google Steps Where Many Have Stumbled: Sidewiki http://bit.ly/2fxwqC

@Scobleizer: "Google Sidewiki is latest attempt by big company to make money off of my content on my blog. I really hate companies that let people put stuff on top of my content without my consent."

Google Launches Sidewiki — More Like a Universal Commenting System http://bit.ly/nMwvN

Related:
How to Claim Your Website’s Google Sidewiki http://bit.ly/6m89E

Updated: 10/04/2009