The Internet Healthcare Coalition offers the following tips in
evaluating the reliability of online health information and advice:
- Choosing an online health information resource is like choosing your doctor. You wouldn't
go to just any doctor and you may get opinions from several doctors. Therefore you shouldn't
rely on just any one Internet site for all your health needs. A good rule of thumb is to find
a Web site that has a person, institution or organization in which you already have confidence.
If possible, you should seek information from several sources and not rely on a single source
of information.
Trust what you see or read on the Internet only if you can validate the source of the
information. Authors and contributors should always be identified, along with their affiliations
and financial interests, if any, in the content. Phone numbers, e-mail addresses or other contact
information should also be provided.
Question Web sites that credit themselves as the sole source of information on a topic as
well as sites that disrespect other sources of knowledge.
Don't be fooled by a comprehensive list of links. Any Web site can link to another and
this in no way implies endorsement from either site.
Find out if the site is professionally managed and reviewed by an editorial board of experts
to ensure that the material is both credible and reliable. Sources used to create the content
should be clearly referenced and acknowledged.
Medical knowledge is continually evolving. Make sure that all clinical content includes
the date of publication or modification.
Any and all sponsorship, advertising, underwriting, commercial funding arrangements,
or potential conflicts should be clearly stated and separated from the editorial content.
A good question to ask is: Does the author or authors have anything to gain from proposing
one particular point of view over another?
Avoid any online physician who proposes to diagnose or treat you without a proper
physical examination and consultation regarding your medical history.
Read the Web site's privacy statement and make certain that any personal medical or other
information you supply will be kept absolutely confidential.
Most importantly, use your common sense! Shop around, always get more than one opinion,
be suspicious of miracle cures, and always read the fine print.
1. The Harris Poll, Aug. 5, 1999
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