Finding reliable health information on the web
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Use the following checklist to help check if the health information you are reading online can be trusted.
| 1. Can you easily identify the sponsor or host of the website?
A trustworthy health website should make it easy for you to learn who is responsible for the information on the site. |
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| 2. Is it clear how you can reach the sponsor? (i.e. is there contact information?)
Contact information for you to reach the site’s sponsor or authors should be easily accessible. This is usually found under an “About Us” or “Contact Us” page or link. |
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| 3. Are you able to see when the information was written or last updated?
Look for websites that keep their information current, so that you know the information you are reading is up-to-date. |
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| 4. Is your privacy protected? (i.e. is there a clearly stated privacy policy?)
Look for pages that protect your privacy and that do not share your information with a third party. A website’s privacy policy is usually found under an “About Us”, “Privacy Policy”, or “Our Policies” page or link. |
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| 5. Does the website make quick and easy solutions or claims about health information?
Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Use caution when looking at a website that promises quick results, especially if it is the only website making these kinds of claims. Beware of websites that claim that one treatment will cure a number of illnesses. |