“An Apple A Day,” the Student Health Services Web site, provides students with information on a variety of health topics.
Those who visit the Web site will find information on topics including contraception, drugs and alcohol, emergency care, exercise and weight management, general health guidelines, mental health, nutrition, healthy skin and links to other health sites.
Also included in the site is a question-and-answer section entitled “Frequently Asked Questions” that enables students to submit questions and receive answers to their health questions and concerns.
Barbara Knight, health education coordinator of Student Health Services, said the “Frequently Asked Questions” portion of the Web site offers students a convenient and private way to ask questions that they might be hesitant to ask in person. Students can submit questions anonymously.
Knight said “An Apple A Day” has made it easier for students to get more health information and for Student Health Services to provide it, but there are strict guidelines about what is appropriate material and correspondence for the Internet.
She said that students request it, but lab results cannot be sent to the student through the Internet. She also said she must be very careful that replies to student questions about health concerns do not resemble a diagnosis. The response can only list what health problems that condition resembles.
Knight said she is most proud of the educational benefits that result from having the Web site.
“I think it has allowed me to reach more consumers of health information with more information than I have been able to in the past,” she said.
Knight said the information on “An Apple A Day” was originally produced in a booklet. The cost of making the booklet available to all the students was prohibitive. Two years ago, she put all the information on the Web site.
The content of the site has expanded to include information that the students have requested.
With all the health information available and health issues to be addressed, Knight said it is a big job to choose what information is appropriate to include on the site and to eliminate what isn’t.
For example, before she makes a link to another health site, she must check to be sure that the site isn’t sponsored by a commercial outfit. Commercial sponsorship makes the information provided through the site suspect, she said.
“An Apple A Day” is constantly expanding. Knight is always searching for new information to include and welcomes student input.
“I would love to know what students want on it,” she said.
The “An Apple A Day” Web site can be accessed at http://www.etsu.edu/studenthealth/index.htm.

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