Most people don’t stop to think about the quality of the health information they find on the internet. With few rules and regulations, and no one in charge, how do you know if the health information you find on the internet is accurate?
Here are some things to consider :
Here are some things to consider :
Accuracy
o Does the site provide references to scientific literature?
o Popular press doesn’t count here.
Authority
o Is the information from a credible source?
o Check the About Us section
o Check the site’s domain
§ .org = not-for-profit agency
§ .edu = educational institution
§ .gov = government institution
§ .com = commercial
· Evaluate .com sites carefully
· Used by businesses to make money or promote a product
· They may contain some good information, but it may not be balanced or complete.
Bias
o Who pays for the site?
o Are ads / sponsored content clearly labeled?
o Who pays for the site?
o Are ads / sponsored content clearly labeled?
Currency
o Are there dates on the material?
o Is it under 5 years old?
o Are there dates on the material?
o Is it under 5 years old?
Coverage
o Does the information cover all aspects of the topic?
o Or does it leave out certain parts (ie only talking about drug treatments and not lifestyle approaches)?
A great place to look for health information on the internet is MedlinePlus.
From The National Library of Medicine, they’ve already done the quality checks for us. It has our best interests at heart.
o Does the information cover all aspects of the topic?
o Or does it leave out certain parts (ie only talking about drug treatments and not lifestyle approaches)?
A great place to look for health information on the internet is MedlinePlus.
From The National Library of Medicine, they’ve already done the quality checks for us. It has our best interests at heart.
