Welcome to module 7: MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

2

 Go over each screen shot, reading the captions to remind students

of the navigation steps they learned on each page. (You do not

need to refer back to the computer screen at this point.)

3

 Encourage students to use this handout as a reference when

practicing the skills they learned in this lesson.

Purpose of Activity

•  Summarizes all of the skills taught in the lesson.

•  Handout gives students a visual map of the lesson to remind them of the web pages visited

and the skills learned.

REINFORCEMENT ACTIVITY

Helping Older Adults Search for Health Information Online:  

A Toolkit for Trainers from the National Institute on Aging

Module 7 – Lesson Plan: MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Go to

www.medlineplus.gov 

To download Toolkit materials, go to www.nihseniorhealth.gov/toolkit

30

WRAPPING UP 

(contd.)

 

(5 Minutes)

“The MedlinePlus website has the latest medical news, ways to find

doctors, and many more features which we will explore in the next lesson.

Remember, always check with your doctor or health care provider

about health information you find on the Internet.

Here is your take-home assignment, which will give you more practice

with the skills you’ve learned today. ”

Teaching Tip 

•   You may wish to write the take-home assignment and URL for MedlinePlus on the board.

1

 As a take-home assignment, ask students to do some research on

a drug, supplement, or a medical test of their choice. They should

be prepared to share that information at the next class.

2

 Ask students how they would get to MedlinePlus.

Answer: Go to

www.medlineplus.gov

3

 Remind them that the address of the website can be found at the

bottom of their handouts.

END OF LESSON 7

REINFORCEMENT ACTIVITY

MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements,  

Medical Encyclopedia

HANDOUTS

Module 7 – Handouts: MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Go to

www.medlineplus.gov 

This course for older adults was developed by the National Institute on Aging.

H-1

Searching for Health Information Online: An Internet Course for Older Adults

During this lesson, you will:

____ 

1

 Recall the main features of the MedlinePlus Home Page.

____ 

2

 Learn how to find information about drugs from the Drugs and 

Supplements page.

____ 

3

 Learn how to find information about supplements (i.e., vitamins,

herbs) from the Drugs and Supplements page.

____ 

4

 Learn how to use the Medical Encyclopedia.

____ 

5

 Find answers to health questions of personal interest.

HANDOUT 7A: Lesson Goals

Module 7 – Handouts: MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Go to

www.medlineplus.gov 

This course for older adults was developed by the National Institute on Aging.

H-2

Searching for Health Information Online: An Internet Course for Older Adults

1

  Back Arrow   

This arrow, often green, is found at the top of most browsers. When you click

on the back arrow, it takes you back – in order – through all of the web pages

you’ve seen. (Sometimes called the back button.)

2

  Button

Small box that looks like it’s being depressed when you select it. Buttons can

turn on (and turn off) many types of functions on the Internet.

HANDOUT 7B: Glossary

 

Module 7 – Handouts: MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Go to

www.medlineplus.gov 

This course for older adults was developed by the National Institute on Aging.

H-3

Searching for Health Information Online: An Internet Course for Older Adults

3

  Link (or hyperlink)

A highlighted or underlined feature on a web page that, when clicked, will

take you to another web page. A link most often appears as underlined words

or an image.

One sure way to tell if something is a link or not: Whenever your cursor turns

into a pointing hand, the image or word you are pointing to is a link.

4

  Menu    

A list of options, or topics, on a website that users can choose from.

HANDOUT 7B: Glossary

Module 7 – Handouts: MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Go to

www.medlineplus.gov 

This course for older adults was developed by the National Institute on Aging.

H-4

Searching for Health Information Online: An Internet Course for Older Adults

HANDOUT 7B: Glossary

5

  Scroll     

To move text or other information on a computer screen up, down, or

sideways, with new information appearing as the old disappears.

6

  Scroll Bar 

A narrow, rectangular bar on the right edge and bottom edge of a web page

that lets you move the page to see more of the information it contains. The

scroll bar on the right moves the web page up and down, and the scroll bar

on the bottom moves the web page right and left.

Scroll Bar

Scroll Bar

HANDOUT

Module 7 – Handouts: MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Go to

www.medlineplus.gov 

This course for older adults was developed by the National Institute on Aging.

H-5

Searching for Health Information Online: An Internet Course for Older Adults

HANDOUT 7B: Glossary

7

  Window 

 

 

A framed area of a computer screen that appears in front of the web page.

Sometimes the appearance of a window means that you have entered another

website. At other times, it means you may still be on the same website.

Module 7 – Handouts: MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Go to

www.medlineplus.gov 

This course for older adults was developed by the National Institute on Aging.

H-6

Searching for Health Information Online: An Internet Course for Older Adults

1

 

Many people are interested in knowing more about drugs and supplements

(i.e., vitamins, herbs) on the market today. Name one drug and one

supplement (or herb) you would like more information about. 

 Drug:

 Supplement:

2

 

What specifically would you like to know about:

 The drug?

 The supplement?

3

 

Name a disease/condition, a medical test, OR a type of surgery that you

would like to have more information about. (Choose only one of the blanks

to fill in.)

 Disease/condition:

   

OR

 Medical Test:

 

OR

 Type of Surgery:

4

 

What would you like to know about this subject?

5

 

Answer:

(Leave blank until later in the lesson.)

     

HANDOUT 7C: Thinking About Medical Issues

Module 7 – Handouts: MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Go to

www.medlineplus.gov 

This course for older adults was developed by the National Institute on Aging.

H-7

Searching for Health Information Online: An Internet Course for Older Adults

Drugs – 

Captopril

 

On the Home Page, click on

Drugs and Supplements

.

 

You should be on the Drugs and Supplements page.

 

Under Drugs, go to the alphabet and click on the letter

C

.

 

Find the drug Captopril.

Click on

Captopril

.

 

You should now be on the Captopril page.

 

Read down the page and answer these questions:

a. What is Captopril prescribed for?

b. What are the special dietary instructions for someone who takes

Captopril

?

c. What is one possible side effect?

8

 

Scroll up to the top of the page.

9

 

Click on the Drugs and Supplements button.

10

 

You should now be back on the Drugs and Supplements page.

HANDOUT 7D:  Find Information on a Drug

5

6

7

1

2

3

4

Module 7 – Handouts: MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Go to

www.medlineplus.gov 

This course for older adults was developed by the National Institute on Aging.

H-8

Searching for Health Information Online: An Internet Course for Older Adults

Supplement – 

Vitamin B-12

1

 

You should be on the Drugs and Supplements page.

2

 

Scroll down to Herbs and Supplements and click on All herbs and

supplements.

3

 

Click on

Vitamin B12

.

4

 

Click on

Background

.

5

 

The Background section begins with information about foods that are good

sources of Vitamin B12. List one of those foods

:

6

 

Scroll down to the section on Evidence.

7

   

Find and read the section entitled “Vitamin B12 Deficiency.” It describes

symptoms that occur when people don’t get enough Vitamin B-12.

8

 

Name one symptom of vitamin B-12 deficiency

9

 

How strong is the scientific evidence for this information? (Circle one)

A  =  Strong scientific evidence for this use

B  =  Good scientific evidence for this use

C  =  Unclear scientific evidence for this use

D  =  Fair scientific evidence against this use

F  =  Strong scientific evidence against this use

HANDOUT 7E:  Find Information on a Supplement

Module 7 – Handouts: MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Go to

www.medlineplus.gov 

This course for older adults was developed by the National Institute on Aging.

H-9

Searching for Health Information Online: An Internet Course for Older Adults

1

 

Look at

Handout 7C

to recall the drug or the supplement you wrote down

in step #2 and the question(s) you wanted answered.

2

   

On the Home Page click on

Drugs and Supplements

.

3

   

Scroll down to Drugs OR Herbs and Supplements to start your search.

4

 

If you are searching for a drug, go to the alphabet under Drugs, and click

on the first letter of the drug. Then find the drug and click on it.

5

 

If you are searching for a supplement, go to Herbs and Supplments and

click on

All herbs and supplements

. Then click on the supplement.

6

 

You should now be on the page for the drug or supplement.

7

   

Scroll down and scan or read the page until you find the answers to your

questions.

8

 

Write the answers in the space below.

9

 

When you are finished, scroll back up to the top of the page.

10

 

Click on the Home link to return to the Home Page.

HANDOUT 7F:  Search for Your Own Medication  

or Supplement

MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

LESSon REviEw with SCREEn ShotS

handout 7G

how to Use this handout

•  Use this handout to help you review the lesson.

•  The screen shots (pictures of web pages) will help you recall the places you visited

in class, and the descriptions will remind you of the navigation skills you learned.

•  You may wish to refer to this handout when searching the website you visited in class.

•  If you have questions about how to navigate any of these pages, write your questions

in the spaces provided and bring them to the next class.

Searching for Health Information Online: An Internet Course for Older Adults

from the national institute on Aging

LESSon REviEw  MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Searching for Health Information Online: An Internet Course for Older Adults

Module 7 – Screen Shots:

MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Go to

www.medlineplus.gov 

This course for older adults was developed by the National Institute on Aging.

S-1

1

You went to the MedlinePlus website at

www.medlineplus.gov

.

You learned about some of the features on

the Search MedlinePlus home Page, including the

(1) 3 broad categories; (2) Search Box;

(3) About Your Health; (4) Health News section

2

You learned that you could find information about

drugs, supplements and herbs by clicking on Drugs 

and Supplements.

Screen Shot 1: home Page

Screen Shot 2: Link to Drugs and Supplements

Your Question(s)

LESSon REviEw  MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Searching for Health Information Online: An Internet Course for Older Adults

Module 7 – Screen Shots:

MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Go to

www.medlineplus.gov 

This course for older adults was developed by the National Institute on Aging.

S-2

3

You learned that clicking on Drugs and 

Supplements would take you to this page

where you could choose to search for information

on a drug or supplement.

Under

•

Drugs, go to the alphabet and click on

the first letter of the drug. Then find the drug

and click on it.

Under

•

herbs and Supplements, click on

All herbs and supplements. Then find the

supplement and click on it

Screen Shot 3: Drugs and Supplements Page

Your Question(s)

LESSon REviEw  MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Searching for Health Information Online: An Internet Course for Older Adults

Module 7 – Screen Shots:

MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Go to

www.medlineplus.gov 

This course for older adults was developed by the National Institute on Aging.

S-3

4

Clicking on an alphabet letter for a drug takes

you to a page with a list of drugs starting with

that letter. Scroll down to find your drug

.

5

Clicking on

All herbs and supplements

takes you

to a page with a list of supplements starting with

that letter. Scroll down to find your supplement.

Your Question(s)

Screen Shot 4: Drug Page - Letter “A”

Scroll Down

Screen Shot 5: herbs and Supplements Page

Scroll Down

LESSon REviEw  MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Searching for Health Information Online: An Internet Course for Older Adults

Module 7 – Screen Shots:

MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Go to

www.medlineplus.gov 

This course for older adults was developed by the National Institute on Aging.

S-4

6

You learned that you could find information

about diseases, tests, symptoms, injuries and

surgery by clicking on Medical Encyclopedia

from the home Page.

7

The Medical Encyclopedia page has an

alphabet that you can use to find information.

Just click on the first letter of the disease, test,

symptom, injury or surgery you are interested in.

Screen Shot 7: Medical Encyclopedia Page 

Your Question(s)

Screen Shot 6: Link to Medical Encyclopedia

LESSon REviEw  MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Searching for Health Information Online: An Internet Course for Older Adults

Module 7 – Screen Shots:

MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Go to

www.medlineplus.gov 

This course for older adults was developed by the National Institute on Aging.

S-5

8

Clicking on an alphabet letter takes you to a

page with a list of topics starting with that letter.

Scroll down to find your topic.

9

On the page of a specific topic (i.e., colonoscopy),

you learned you could click on more links to find

in-depth information.

Screen Shot 9: Colonoscopy Page 

Your Question(s)

Screen Shot 8: Encyclopedia Page “C”

Scroll Down

LESSon REviEw  MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Searching for Health Information Online: An Internet Course for Older Adults

Module 7 – Screen Shots:

MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements, Medical Encyclopedia

Go to

www.medlineplus.gov 

This course for older adults was developed by the National Institute on Aging.

S-6

10

To find information about another topic,

scroll to the bottom of the page and click on

Return to top

.

Screen Shot 10: Bottom of Encyclopedia Page “C” 

Your Question(s)