“The internet is a great source of information to help you
manage or research a condition or treatment,
but it is not reliable for self-diagnosis or self-treatment…”.1
Umbrella
What may the Health Information Evaluation on the Internet Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- HONcode
- Health Information on the Internet/Web/World Wide Web
- Health On the Net
- Internet Health Information
- Online Health Information
- Web Surfing
About Us
What is the first thing to do when reading a medical site?
In The Smart Searcher: A Guide To Online Medical Advice the American Heart Association (AHA) explain:
“The first thing to do when reading a medical site is to know your source. There should be an “About Us” tag that tells you who maintains the site and why. If this section is missing, or if the site seems focused on selling something, look elsewhere or proceed with skepticism”.2In The Smart Searcher: A Guide To Online Medical Advice – Who Can You Trust? the AHA also note:
“The most reliable sources include accredited medical schools, university teaching hospitals and reputable nonprofit organizations such as the American Heart Association. These sites (which end in .edu and .org) provide health information and libraries. Government sources such as the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services are also reliable. (These sites end in .gov)”.3
Evaluation
What criteria may be used to evaluate health information on the WWW?
In How To Find Cancer Resources You Can Trust: How To Find Trustworthy Websites the (United States) National Cancer Institute elaborate on:
“There are so many websites with cancer information that it can be hard to know which ones to trust. Credible sources of cancer and other health information should make it easy for people to learn who is posting the content. They should make clear the original source of the information, along with the expert credentials of the people who prepare or review the online material.
Ask the following questions to decide if health information online is credible:
- Who manages this information?…
- What are the letters at the end of the web address?…
- Who is paying for the project, and what is their purpose?…
- What is the original source of the information that they have posted?…
- How is information reviewed before it gets posted?…
- How current is the information?…
- If they are asking for personal information, how will they use that information and how will they protect your privacy?…”.4
In Making Decisions About Your Health: Internet Health Information – Website Reliability Checker the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) elaborate on:
“To assess which organisations and websites offer more reliable information, you can check a website against the following criteria:
- Who owns the website?…
- Why has the website been created?…
- How easy is it to understand the information?…
- Is the information up to date?…
- How reputable is the source of information?…
- Is the information supported by evidence-based practice?…”.5
Health Care Provider
What if I would like to find out what health information on the Internet is applicable to me?
If you would like to find out what health information on the Internet is applicable to you, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.
The JH note:
“The internet is a great source of information to help you manage or research a condition or treatment, but it is not reliable for self-diagnosis or self-treatment of a health problem. If you have symptoms that worry you, if you are not sure about the reliability of the information you have found on the internet or if you find medical information you think is relevant to you, seek advice from your doctor”.6In How To Find Reliable Health Information Online: Trust Yourself and Talk With Your Doctor the (United States) National Institute of Aging elaborate on:
“Use your good judgment when gathering health information online. There are websites on nearly every health topic, and many have no rules for overseeing the quality of the information provided. Use the information you find online as one tool to become more informed. Don’t count on any one website and check your sources. Discuss what you find with your doctor before making any changes to your health care”.7
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Health Information Evaluation on the Internet?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Health Information Evaluation on the Internet?
Your Country may have Links similar to:
Links
This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.New or Updated
- Careful! Health News Headlines Can Be Deceiving
- Evaluating Health Information
- Evaluating Internet Health Information: A Tutorial From the National Library of Medicine
- For Consumers [Food and Drug Administration, United States]
- Health Fraud Scams
- How To Find Cancer Resources You Can Trust
- How To Find Reliable Health Information Online
- Making Decisions About Your Health: Internet Health Information
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science: How To Make Sense of A Scientific Journal Article
- The Smart Searcher: A Guide To Online Medical Advice
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Making Decisions About Your Health: Internet Health Information – Website Reliability Checker: Ask Your Doctor. Last Updated: 26 August 2023 | Last Reviewed: 11 October 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/health-checks/making-decisions-about-your-health/ Accessed: 09 October 2023
- The Smart Searcher: A Guide To Online Medical Advice. American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/doctor-appointments-questions-to-ask-your-doctor/the-smart-searcher-a-guide-to-online-medical-advice Accessed: 09 October 2023
- The Smart Searcher: A Guide To Online Medical Advice – Who Can You Trust? American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/doctor-appointments-questions-to-ask-your-doctor/the-smart-searcher-a-guide-to-online-medical-advice Accessed: 09 October 2023
- How To Find Cancer Resources You Can Trust: How To Find Trustworthy Websites You Visit. Updated: 29 June 2023. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/managing-care/using-trusted-resources Accessed: 09 October 2023
- Making Decisions About Your Health: Internet Health Information – Website Reliability Checker. Last Updated: 26 August 2023 | Last Reviewed: 11 October 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/health-checks/making-decisions-about-your-health/ Accessed: 09 October 2023
- Making Decisions About Your Health: Internet Health Information – Website Reliability Checker: Ask Your Doctor. Last Updated: 26 August 2023 | Last Reviewed: 11 October 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/health-checks/making-decisions-about-your-health/ Accessed: 09 October 2023
- How To Find Reliable Health Information Online: Trust Yourself and Talk With Your Doctor. Content Reviewed 12 January 2023. National Institute of Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/how-find-reliable-health-information-online Accessed: 09 October 2023
Topic Last Updated: 09 October 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 09 October 2023
