Selecting health websites and apps

YOUR HEALTH IS IMPORTANT

KNOW YOUR SOURCES

There is an abundance of information on the internet.  Some of the information found may not be relevant, reliable or unbiased.  It is important to know if the information trustworthy.  There are a few tips to help determine if the health website or App is trustworthy:

WHO:  Who runs the website ? Who pays for the website? (look in the about section on the websites page) Is the website selling something? Is it sponsored by an organization that has biased opinions or views? Who reviews the information? Are credentialed people reviewing the information for accuracy?

WHAT: What is the purpose of the site? Are the claims unrealistic?

WHEN:  When was the information last updated? Is the information on the website reviewed and updated on a regular basis?

WHERE: Where is the information on the website coming from? Is the information based on scientific evidence? Is there a clear distinction between advice/opinions and evidence based information? Are medical journals referenced?


Some great places to start searching for accurate health information is:

Medline Plus
https://www.medlineplus.gov/

Healthfinder.gov
https://healthfinder.gov/

kidshealth.org
https://kidshealth.org/