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Health Information: Evaluating Information

Resources for understanding health conditions and accessing health care

Finding Reliable Health Information Online

When researching health issues there is a lot of information to sort through, both in print and online. According to the Office of the Surgeon General, health misinformation is: “information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading according to the best available evidence at the time. It can be really hard to know what is true amidst all this misinformation.” 

How do you determine what's reliable and what's not?

What to look for.....

The National Institutes of Health and National Library of Medicine have created a checklist of questions to ask to help determine whether the information you're reading is reliable and accurate. 

From the Guide to Health Web Surfing:

  • Consider the source - who's responsible for the information presented, and are they health experts?
  • Focus on quality - who reviews the information before it is posted?
  • Be a cyberskeptic - look out for claims of miracle cures.
  • Look for the evidence - is the information supported with research studies, or individual testimonials? 
  • Check for currency - how often is the information updated?
  • Beware of bias - is the information presented to sell you something?
  • Protect your privacy - does the website ask for personal information, and what will they do with it?
  • Consult with your health care professional.

You can find additional information at:

Ask Questions!

The following video provides advice from the Federal Trade Commission on assessing health information that you find in advertisements or online. For more information, go to: