Exploring Health Info on the Internet: What to Watch for

Imagine that you just had a doctor’s visit and learned that you have a medical condition with which you are unfamiliar.  Your doctor explained your diagnosis and most likely gave you a handout, but you want to learn more and turn to the Internet.  Well, you are not alone.  According to a 2013 national survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, 59 percent of adults look for health information on the Internet.  

You should always strive to find trustworthy information on the Internet, but this is especially important when looking for health information, as the wrong information could end up compromising your care.  How do you know if a website is a credible source for health information?  When searching the Internet, here are a few guidelines that you can use to help with your evaluation:

·         In general, good sources for health information include sites from the government (.gov), educational institutes (.edu), and organizations (.org). 

·         Look for an “about us” link on the site that provides information on who runs the site.  This may also include a mission statement. 

·         Check who reviews the information that you are reading.  Is there a Medical Advisory Board?  If you are looking at cancer information, there should be medical professionals on the board that specialize in oncology.

·         Is there a date listed as to when the page was last updated?  Health information changes rapidly and you want to make sure the information you are reading is current and up-to-date. 

·         Do you see typographical errors on the page?  Are there dead links?  Does the page look sloppy?  If so, you may want to try another website.

·         Is the information that is being claimed too good to be true?  If there is any doubt with what you are reading, try to verify the information on another website.

·         Be cautious since anyone can put information on the Internet.

If you are being treated at a facility that has a patient library, there is a good chance a medical librarian is on staff.  Medical librarians use evidence-based research and practice when evaluating health information, either in print or online, and are the perfect professionals to help you find reliable, relevant, and current information.  If a medical librarian is not available to you, a reference librarian at your public library will be able to assist you with your search.  

Janet Lasin, MLS, BS, is the medical librarian at the Resource and Learning Center at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.