Selecting websites can be difficult and misleading with so much information present on the internet. Some guidelines and questions to ask can help find quality sources and sifting through information.
1.Select recognized authorities: Know who is responsible for the content provided. Who is responsible can usually be found on “about us” page.
2. Check quality: Learning about the websites editorial board, or reviewed information before posting.
3. Be Skeptical: Do health claims sound “too good to be true,” is it the only site making certain claims, and does it promise quick or dramatic results?
4. Evidence: Is an Author identified for information provided? Does the website rely on testimonials?
5. Currency/Bias: Is the information provided up to date? Who pays for the site, and what is the purpose of the site?
6. Privacy: Is there a privacy policy? Information is collected from websites, and that site should have a “privacy”, “privacy policy” section with details about the information collected.
Recommended Websites and Organizations (URL’s provided)
- American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org
- American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org
- American Lung Association. https://www.lung.org
- World Health Organization. https://www.who.int
- U.S. Food and Drug https://www.fda.gov
- Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org
MedlinePlus. (2015). MedlinePluse guide to healthy web surfing. U.S. national library of medicine. Retrived from https://medlineplus.gov/healthywebsurfing.html
Health Informatics 