Would you use Wikipedia to treat patients?
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General clinical
Would you use Wikipedia to treat patients?
Discuss any specialty in this open forum for all healthcare professionals
At the BMJ today we had a meeting for our Journals, such as Gut and Heart and we had a talk from Tad Campion, the online editor of the NEJM about their experience of social media. The NEJM put up thei
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Forums » Open clinical » General clinical » Would you use Wikipedia to treat patients?
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Re: Would you use Wikipedia to treat patients?
posted at 6/5/2012 7:52 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 3045
First: 27/3/2012 Last: 20/5/2013 |
Here I completely agree with what Dr. DrS says! I would also not feel hesitant to search for any relevant information on wikipedia, but of course the final decision would completely be based on our clinical expertise & judgment. It has been rightly quoted by DrS 'I find its a great place to start when looking at rare conditions that I've never heard of. Once I've established what type of condition it is, or what its more common names are, I can then go hunting more specific information from a more "reliable" source' |
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Re: Would you use Wikipedia to treat patients?
posted at 6/5/2012 9:13 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 71
First: 3/4/2012 Last: 31/5/2012 |
i sometimes use it for revision, it a textbook is not spelling something out well for me. However, I dont think i would ever use it to treat, may just to look things up here and there as i'm on the go. |
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Re: Would you use Wikipedia to treat patients?
posted at 30/5/2012 2:20 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 324
First: 23/12/2011 Last: 3/5/2013 |
To treat patients. Yikes. Why would there be a need for doctor's then if they just look up wiki and head to their nearest pharmacist? I agree with everyone on here saying that it would be good as easy and quick info if you couldnt fathom something but as treatment guidelines surely the BNF or NICE website would be better. |
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Re: Would you use Wikipedia to treat patients?
posted at 3/6/2012 6:38 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 154
First: 19/1/2012 Last: 18/5/2013 |
I wouldn't use wikipedia for drug doses or information on treatments, but I do sometimes use it as a bit of a starting point to look into others things, especially things outside my specialty, a bit like I'd use google. I find the references can be very good, and I'll use the links at the bottom to read further. I think the information on wikipedia can be a bit unpredictable, like the rest of the internet, but for certain pages I think it is a good starting point for information for patients and students too. I think we as doctors do need to look at what's on the internet, and keep up to date with what comes up on a google search or youtube for the illnesses we treat - because it's certainly the first place most lay people will look for information.
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Re: Would you use Wikipedia to treat patients?
posted at 3/6/2012 7:06 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 19
First: 3/6/2012 Last: 6/8/2012 |
wikipedia or other sources, such as doctors net, nhs direct - does it matter? As long as your patients are safe. Be proffessional and do your research not in front of the patient. This irritates them and put the profession in disrespute. I often get out-patients in my clinic, coming to complain that their GP were searching on internet, whilst completing the examination. Such a disgrace. Behave as a doctor, not as a clown for Godness seek |
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Re: Would you use Wikipedia to treat patients?
posted at 19/7/2012 9:56 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 339
First: 12/7/2010 Last: 21/5/2013 |
I don't like wiki. Actually I put it down as my last resource for medical info (and obviously never get there). But if the task involved recalling something non-medical I probably learnt a while ago, I'd clarify what I think is right with wiki. Also, I look out for the messages on top, if they say that the article needs revising/is an orphan, I won't waste time reading it and try to fish out sites specific to my search. The most I use wiki for are to catch up on episodes of some of my favorite TV series (Grey's Anatomy, House and .... *blush* Glee -I just love their music- *blush*!!).....come to think of it, I haven't seen any in so long! Excuse moi, need to go to wiki to find out the latest on the series! |
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