Finding Quality Health Information on the Web     

Finding health information on the World Wide Web is easy. After all, we have access to more medical data in cyberspace than we will ever need. But how do you know that what you're reading is reliable and accurate? As health care consumers, we must be aware that not all Web sites are created equal. There are no rules about what type of information can appear on the Web. Having a critical eye is our responsibility.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself as you are looking for health information on the Web:

• Check out the source of the information. Be wary of Web sites that (1) do not list the origin of the information, (2) are trying to sell a product or service, or (3) are promoting only one point of view. The most objective sites are government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the National Library of Medicine, or your local department of health. One question you could ask yourself: Does the author have anything to gain from having only one viewpoint on the topic?

• Know the purpose of the site. Many sites have an About This Site or About Us link. Click on it to see what the purpose of the site is. It will help you to find out if the information is reliable.

• Know who is paying for the site. The source of funding for the site can affect what content is on it. Is the site paid for by advertising or by sponsorship from a drug company? The answer should be clearly stated or easy to find.

• Find out when the site was last updated. Health and medical information is constantly changing and needs to be current. If the information is old, it could be less reliable. If the Web site is rarely updated, it probably is not as accurate as a site that posts information regularly. Always know when the site was first created and when it was last revised.

• Make sure the site is reviewed by experts. Having this system in place will help ensure that the information is reliable.

• Be aware of what information the site is collecting. If you have to be a member or sign up on the site, chances are that information will be used for something other than identification. Any site that requests your name, address, credit card, or other information should tell you exactly what they will do -- and not do -- with this data.

• Get a second opinion. Compare the information with that of other sources. Ask your doctor what he or she knows about the topic or finding and what sources they would regard as reliable.