Can you trust what you’re reading? Can you rely on that intriguing podcast? Would you use that video to solve a life-threatening issue? If the answer is no, then you probably can’t trust the information source.
So, how do you know if the medical jargon can really help you or not? Below I’ll provide 7 tips to find reliable information on the web. Use it to locate trusted medical sources or any other type of facts you’d like to enhance that big brain of yours with!
- The dot-type:
- .gov = United States (US) government agency
- .mil = US military agency
- .edu = usually educational institutions (school or university)
- .org = commonly nonprofit organizations (professional, medical or research society, etc.)
- .com = typically business websites (general, pharmaceutical company, hospital)
- For more info on dot types: https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db
- The article’s Author:
- Check out the author’s qualifications to report on the subject
- Ensure the author has current knowledge of the subject: professional memberships or associations at reputable institutions
- Can you contact the author? trustworthy sites allow you to contact the author for questions
- Do you see reference material(s)? Dependable websites have info on how and when the article was written and/or reviewed
- Beware of comments and stories – even on reputable websites:
- There’s a difference between contacting an expert with a question versus gaining info from random, unknown people
- Personal stories and comments may feel helpful, but always discuss these with your doctor
- You can’t always verify the source of random comments or stories
- Remember that not all health-related experiences and symptoms of illness are the same
- When was the information posted or written?
- Is the website current? Look for a date or timestamp for the post
- Trustworthy sites use the most current, evidence-based health information
- Mission or purpose of the site
- What is the site used for or why was the site created? Trustworthy sites tell you what they’re about upfront and don’t conceal ways to sell you things
- Determine if the site explains or educates the public about health issues versus trying to sell or promote a product
- Beware of false claims like those products that seem like a cure-all for incurable diseases
- Protect your privacy and health information
- Read the privacy and cookie policies to understand how your personal info will be used
- When asked to share your personal health info, make sure the website is secure
- Secure websites have an “s” after the “http” at the start of the website address (https://) and will require a username and password
- Be very careful about sharing your social security number on the internet
- Quick and Easy Solutions?
- Be cautious of websites that offer quick or easy answers to medical issues
- Question websites claiming to cure a difficult disease
- And watch out for those scamming websites that link to trustworthy sites – just because a web page links to a trusted site doesn’t mean it has that organization’s endorsement
1 Response
[…] yourself from false claims, and phony medical information. Check out my post on Finding Reliable Health Info. Browse the web with confidence and empower yourself with the best information for your […]