If I want to read decent articles on a medical issue where is the best place to look?

[robino]

Would peer-reviewed articles be too specialised for a non-medical person? And if I were to understand them, where would I find them?

Actually, maybe they're the wrong questions as I'm lead to believe this is not a common issue. If I google something, how do I know what I find is likely to be of decent quality? I'm guessing if somebody is advertising rhino horn and cranberry at vastly inflated prices then it might not be the most reliable article but otherwise I'm a bit clueless!

you can find articles on things like the BMJ website and the Lancet.

Depends how specialised really. For reliable general stuff, netdoctor and patient.co.uk are both medically sound. Nice guidelines are quite accessible, and best treatments.

Agree NICE guidelines might be a good place to start - they describe how the NHS should handle a clinical condition or issue based on best available evidence. You can read the full guideline or the patient-friendly version. www.nice.org.uk IIRC.

Oh, and the BBC health section is quite good. Always worth trying NHS Direct too, as well as any reputable charity e.g. Cancer Research or the British Heart Foundation etc. etc. etc.

Get the feeling this is very specialised! To be fair the consultant today spent a good 45 minutes with me explaining what the situation was (it was unexpected news) and is very happy to see me again when I've had time to think it through and realise I've forgotten everything he told me. It was him who suggested googling (I wasn't so sure, don't want to terrify myself). Am now googling to try and remind myself of everything he said before I talk to DP. There doesn't appear to be much out there!

Am assuming The Surgeon is fairly reputable?

Thank you for all suggestions so far

try pubmed. i have found that even if they don't have the whole article the abstract is very helpful. i have then sometimes looked up the authors and then searched to see if they have the article free on their own website.

you can get access to a lot of the online databases that hold these papers from many libraries. you might need to ask around as sometimes people dont know what they have. you would almost certainly get access from within any university if you are staff or student. again worth asking around if you are not a student as friends could have a look for you.

Usually the relevant patient support groups have really good information in a way that you can understand.

Peer reviewed papers are usually only on a very specific topic, although you may occasionally find a review article. Cochrane reviews are very good, and reliable data.

I'm quite good on Pubmed if you want to share what the issue is

A good source of articles can be found on newstarget.com, it is a brilliant website.

There are also many great articles on the curezone website.

Message withdrawn

Thanks for all the suggestions. As CMOT has offered herself up as someone with a bit of knowledge I shall divulge what I know.

Had my appendix out at the end of October and yesterday had a follow up appointment. Assumed it was a "check you feel ok, check scars, chuck you out" type of appointment. Wrong! Ended up having a long chat with consultant because they'd found a tumour on my appendix. I don't think I'm too worried - he spent a lot of time explaining it to me. It's officially described as a "well-differentiated endocrine tumour" with "uncertain behavioural potential".

The multi-disciplinary team's suggestion is for no further action. Consultant explained a couple of further tests that could be done and why they don't think they're necessary. However, he then suggested that I go home, think about all I had been told, discuss it with DP, google it and make a further appointment to discuss it with him if I (and DP) feel the need.

Was a bit surprised by his suggestion that I google it to be honest! Dp and I are going to make a further appointment just to get a few things straight and ask some further questions anyway but wouldn't mind finding a few things to read.

Have probably given you far too much information now!

This is sort of my area - I am involved in cancer treatment, but the radiation end of things, so have a fairly good knowledge of cancer biology.

What you have, means that the some of the neuroendocrine cells (they are spread through your body) in your appendix have gone a bit funny, and in this case, lost the brakes that tell them how fast to grow and let them form lump. The well differentiated bit means that they still look like they should, and therefore don't normally have the urge/ability to wander off anywhere else to grow (so can't spread)

I found this paper which is a really good explanation of the guidelines for treating and following up.

If you need any help with the terms, just ask, and I'll try and help (or I'll ask someone who does know)

CMOT that was a fantastic paper you found. now i need one on a diagnosis of 'we are not sure if you have MEN1 or not"

Wow! CMOT- I've had a very quick look at the first couple of pages of that paper but am in a horrid rush this morning and away until tomorrow evening so won't have a chance to look properly until then. It looks great though - thank you very much.

robino...i had investigations for these tumours too. Iwas getting alot of weird problems,like sore joints,hot hands and feet,facial flushing,fatigue,feeling crap all the time,
The gastro consultant did so many tests and then told me he was looking at sarcoid. I have to say it frightened me to death as he said he was looking at the worst possible scenario. I hpe they managed to remove all the tumour for you. My consultant said they can be the size of a pin head and still cause the body havoc

Hi there,

If you do not have a medical background, or background in advanced biology, biochem, anatomy, pathology and statistics then I would not advice looking at peer reviewed journals.

Sources like patient.co.uk are very good, but the information is usually generalised and often patients will be looking for specific answers, usually to their own circumstances.

If your looking for best guidence on the diagnosis and management of conditions then consider looking at the following sites:
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) and also NICE.

You may wish to ask that question of your GP, but it means making an appointment and telling them you have questions regarding a condition. Most of my colleagues would be happy to do this, but not all.

Kind regards
Dr Shazan Chughtai
www.DrAdvice.co.uk