10 questions to ask when using health related resources on the Web

Increasingly people are turning to the Web for health-related information.  Many Web sites have valuable, cutting-edge information.  However, Web sites have become an inexpensive means of marketing and because unfortunately there are unscrupulous people, sites offering medical information, curative treatment  with an attached cost and other health-related content should be approached with caution.  The 10 questions below are provided to help determine whether a health site is credible.

1.Who runs this site?

Any good health-related Web site should be transparent.  It should be simple and easy for you to learn who is responsible for the site and its information and the credentials of those who produce it.

2. Who pays for the site?

It costs money to run a Web site. The source of a Web site’s funding should be clearly stated or readily apparent. For example, Web addresses ending in “.gov” denote a Federal Government-sponsored site. You should know how the site pays for its existence. Does it sell advertising? Is it sponsored by a pharmaceutical company? The source of funding and vested interests of the funders can affect what content is presented, how the content is presented and the “agenda” of the site sponsors.

3. What is the purpose of the site?

The purpose of the site should be clearly stated and should help visitors to the site  evaluate the trustworthiness and apparent bias of the information.

4. Where does the information come from?

Many health/medical sites post information collected from other Web sites or sources. If the person or organization in charge of the site did not create the information, the original source should be clearly labeled.

5. What is the basis of the information?

In addition to identifying who wrote the material you are reading, the site should describe the evidence that the material is based on. Medical facts and figures should have references to things such as articles in medical journals. Also, opinions or advice should be clearly set apart from information that is “evidence-based,” that is, based on research results.

6. How is the information selected?

Is there an editorial board? Do people with excellent professional and scientific qualifications review the material before it is posted?

7. How current is the information?

The health field changes rapidly and Web sites should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis.  The most recent update or review date should be clearly posted. Even if the information has not changed, you want to know whether the site owners have reviewed it recently to ensure that it is still valid.

8. How does the site choose links to other sites?

Web sites usually have a policy about how they establish links to other sites. Some medical sites take a conservative approach and don’t link to any other sites. Some link to any site that asks, or pays, for a link. Others only link to sites that have met certain criteria.

9. What information about you does the site collect, and why?

Web sites routinely track the paths visitors take through their sites to determine what pages are being used. Some also require registration, at times to collect the demographics of that Web site’s users, but at time to collect information that can be used for other purposes.  Before leaving any personal information, be certain that you know how it will be used.  If the site does not tell you how information will be used, be very cautious about providing yours.

Many health-related sites have legitimate health assessments, however, a technique sometimes used to collect information is a “health-quiz” which leads or tricks the visitor into leaving personal information as part of a promised “assessment.”  Learn the difference before beginning a health assessment.

10. How does the site manage interactions with visitors?

One aspect of the “transparency” of Web sites is that there should always be a way for you to contact the site owner if you run across problems or have questions or feedback.  

The above list was adapted from public domain resources from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)