How to Evaluate Medical Websites

Consumers are turning to the Internet to find information on a specific medical condition, learn facts before a doctor visit and get general health tips. As anyone who has done a search knows, there are many pseudoscience websites. Knowing how to separate the quality from the quackery in medical websites can help you quickly zero in on the information you need to make good health choices.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access

1. Type in keyword searches. For example, if your child has been diagnosed with an ear infection and you want to read about how these infections develop, type the key word "ear infection" into your search engine and come up with a long list of medical websites. Scan the list of sites for names of familiar health care organizations. For example, Mayo Clinic is an established, reputable health care organization known for excellent care and reliable information. You can also identify government sites, another good source of medical information, from the ".gov" in the address. For example, the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health publishes reams of consumer information on virtually every common ailment.
2. Evaluate the website for possible bias when not published by an instantly recognizable source. Biased medical information may push consumers toward procedures or treatments that are not necessarily in their best interests. Be skeptical of sites published by companies that stand to gain by selling you something. For example, companies that sell drugs, supplements or devices may try to mislead you into thinking you need their products or services. Of course, many sponsored sites, or sites featuring ads for a particular product or service, do provide unbiased information; if you are not certain, read some of the articles on the site to see if they try to persuade you to buy something or if they just present the facts. One example of a quality-sponsored site is WebMD.
3. Be leery of medical information written by someone who is not a health professional and who appears to be basing their knowledge on only their own personal experience. A doctor, nurse or other health care provider who has the medical education and experience to back up their assertions writes the best medical information. Examine the author's credentials carefully.
4. Read medical and health blogs, message boards and chat rooms for ideas, but remember that people who do not have a medical background and who are speaking only about their own experiences rather than basing their information on data from solid studies write most of the posts. Use the ideas there only as a springboard to do your own search of quality sites or to mention to your doctor.
5. Remember that although the Internet is a valuable tool, it is not a substitute for seeing your doctor and should never be a source of medical advice or a way to buy medications. Your doctor has the medical knowledge to give you the right advice for you and can help ensure that, should you need medication, you get it from a reputable source.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are not sure the information on a website is reliable, double-check the facts on another site. If information is reliable, you will find it on more than one site.
• Do not waste your time or risk being misled. Go straight to medical websites published by recognizable, trusted organizations.
• Beware of "experts" offering medical advice. No reputable health care professional will give medical advice over the Internet.
• Never start a medical program or treatment without first consulting your doctor.
• Do not place your trust or money in anyone purporting to have a "revolutionary" or "miracle" cure to a disease or condition. If you read about a promising treatment, make sure you can find information or data backing it up on several other websites.