How do you keep abreast of medical developments?

Nice and old-fashioned: new developments on paper

• Many large libraries have a ‘health square’ where current magazines and books on all kinds of health topics are conveniently located together.
• Four times a year, the Bio-Sciences and Society (BWM) foundation publishes a cahier on a current theme, written in accessible language by expert scientists. A cahier on hepatitis has recently been published. Last year, ‘Brain in the picture’ (about brain disorders) and ‘Diabetes, a wolf in sheep’s clothing’ were published. BMW also publishes (free) brochures, for example about MS and stem cells. Folders and cahiers can be downloaded at www.biomaatschappij.nl or can be ordered (cahier €6 excl. shipping costs) via tel. 070-344 07 81.
• The Consumers’ Association publishes the Gezondgids seven times a year, with tests of food, practical aids and therapies. Free for members, €61 for non-members.
• Publications about medicines and treatments can be ordered from the Dutch Patients Consumer Federation (NPCF) by calling 030-297 03 03. They can also be downloaded at www.npcf.nl.

The latest news on radio & TV
The website www.Gezond24.nl offers an overview of all medical programs of the public broadcasters on radio and TV. On the site you can also find videos and files and you can watch old episodes. From Teleac there are ‘The academic hospital’, about new therapies and operating methods, and the science program ‘Labyrinth’. More information via www.teleac.nl. The AVRO broadcasts the program ‘Depraktijk’ on radio 1, every working day from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. (can also be listened to as a podcast).

Patient organizations are on top of it
Patient organizations usually have a wealth of information. They often publish a member magazine with messages about the latest scientific discoveries. Almost all patient associations have an information number. For example:

• KWF Cancer Infoline, tel. 0800-022 66 22
  (free, Mon-Fri 9am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-5pm).
• Rheumatoid line, tel. 0900-20 30 300
  (Mon-Fri 10am-2pm, local rate).
• Heart Foundation information line, tel. 0900-3000 300
  (Mon-Fri 9am-1pm, local rate).
• Asthma Fund Advice Line, 0900-227 25 96
  (€0.10 p/m, Mon-Fri 10am-2pm).

In addition, many patient organizations have a forum on the Internet where patients can exchange experiences, including about new treatments. In addition, most major patient associations provide a newsletter by e-mail.

With a click of the mouse
No internet at home? There is free internet in the library!

• For the latest medical insights you can visit www.leesbaaronderzoek.nl. This site contains summaries of international medical scientific research in understandable language. With explanation. The site is an initiative of the Diabetes Fund and the ministries of VWS and OCW. Currently there are only articles about diabetes on the site, as a test, but from the end of 2010 other conditions will be added.
• The website www.kiesbeter.nl provides reliable information from the government about healthcare and health. Which hospital has the most specific expertise? What is the quality of a hospital? Where are you the fastest? You can also call 0900-123 78 90 (€0.15 p/m, Mon-Fri 9am-6pm). Or email: info@kiesbeter.nl.
• The site of Medisch Contact, a weekly magazine for doctors and medical students, medicalcontact.artsennet.nl, is informative. Lots of news and a handy search function.
• on www.biomedisch.nl news stories about medical biotechnology, such as stem cell and gene therapy.

Browse the internet yourself using a search engine google can of course also. For example, in the search bar, type: ‘new MS drugs’. Or: ‘new prostate cancer treatment’. Do check who the information comes from. A pharmaceutical company? An independent source? If it is not clear who owns the site, look at www.sidn.nl, click on ‘whois’, then on advanced search and type in the domain name. Then it becomes visible who manages it.

There are numerous medical news sites with a search function. This is how www.medisch-specialist.nl links to sites like www.health.blog.nl, www.Gezondheidsnet.nl, www.mediwijzer.nl, www.medicalfacts.nl, www.medischewereld.nl and www.consumed.nl.

In the Medicines Information Bank of the Medicines Evaluation Board (MEB), on www.cbg-meb.nl, there is a monthly overview of newly registered medicines.

Anyone who reads English easily and is not afraid of scientific fare, can also shed light on PubMed, an overview of all international (bio)medical scientific articles: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed.
Pay attention! Always discuss information that seems relevant with your treating physician. He or she can best estimate to what extent it applies to you.

Work in progress
Curious about what medical scientific research is being done? View on www.onderzoekinformatie.nl of the KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences).
The site of the NWO (Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research) also shows where which research takes place: www.nwo.nl/projecten.nsf/pages/losearch. Or call, tel. 070-344 06 40 (office hours), or mail: nwo@nwo.nl.

Information about studies can also be found on the websites of academic hospitals. For example, the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) is conducting research into migraines and cluster headaches. Test subjects are needed for this kind of research. You can register via www.lumc.nl/con/5035/. On the sites of expertise centers such as the Sein Klinieken (epilepsy, www.sein.nl), diabetics (diabetes, www.diabeter.nl), the Netherlands Cancer Institute (www.nki.nl/research) and the Brain Foundation (www.hersenstichting.nl/onderzoek/results-uit-onderzoek.html) also contains information about ongoing investigations.

Many patient associations offer an overview of current scientific research on their website. Sometimes test subjects are asked.
Become a test subject? First read the brochure about this from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. Order free of charge at Postbus 51, tel. 0800-80 51 (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm). Or download the brochure.