Healthcare Information on the Web: How Reliable?

by Joyce Remy

Tips for Evaluating Healthcare Websites

Healthcare websites are a lot like the real world...some sources of information are reliable, and others are not. Some authors and organizations seek to inform; others seek to misinform. How can you tell the difference?

More and more, people are turning to the Internet for information on healthcare...and as of this issue of Seniors Digest, there are over 100,000 websites dealing with specific diseases...wellness...providers... medications...and other health-related topics. The Internet provides access to a wealth of knowledge, from the comfort of your desk chair. But how reliable is this information? And how can you judge the reliability of a website? Here are some questions to ask.

Q:  Who owns or sponsors the site?

Look for web sites that are run by a respected "real life" person, organization, or institution in which you already have confidence. The most reputable sites are run by

• federal government agencies 
• universities 
• medical associations 
• reputable healthcare-related organizations.

News agencies and reputable publishers are also committed to accuracy. Other sites, including those run by companies trying to sell products and services, may be less accurate.

The least reliable information is to be found on bulletin board sites (where anyone can post his or her opinion); on personal websites; and on sites selling herbs, diets or other "miracle cures."

Q: How trustworthy are the authors?

To be sure that a website's healthcare information is well documented and based on solid scientific evidence, follow the same guidelines you would with a book or journal find out who the author is, and check his/her credentials. This information should be clearly stated on the site. (Hint: look for the button or link that says "About Us.")

Keep in mind that it is much easier to put up a website than to publish a book! Anyone with basic web publishing skills and software can publish on the web.

Q: What is the purpose of the site?

Is the site designed to inform the public...or to sell a product? What is the "agenda" of the sponsoring organization? Some websites are nothing more than glorified commercials...so be aware of why they are offering the information. For example...

• Even the website of a trusted company (for example, a medical center, drug manufacturer, insurance company) may present information in a way that best reflects their services or products...at the expense of a thorough, well rounded set of facts.
  
• Many TV channels have impressive on-line presences that include a healthcare section...but remember that their ultimate goal is to urge viewers to lobby their cable company to carry the station, to increase viewership, and to promote their own programming.
  
• Sites that include advertising may alter their content to please the sponsor. (For example, if a drug company's banner ad appears on the site, a less-than-honest webmaster might delete negative information about side effects of their product.)

Just as in the real world, many thousands of unscrupulous businesses operate on the Web, offering miracle cures, useless medications and treatments, impossible weight loss claims, and elaborate but medically unsound "theories" of disease. These businesses prey on gullible consumers and bilk the American public out of billions of dollars a year...as well as preventing their victims from getting the care they really need.

Q: How current is the information?

Just as you would check the copyright date of a book to see how up-to-date it is, check the date of web sites.... as well as the date of individual articles. One huge advantage of the Internet over printed sources is that a web site can be changed the very day new information is discovered...and ideally, a web site would never be outdated. But in reality, many web sites are seldom (or never) updated once they are first posted.

Q: Who links to the site?

If a reputable organization includes a link to another site, that can mean that they've checked out and approved that site. But be careful in some cases, links can be added by site visitors and are not checked.

Develop a "Smart Search" Strategy

Begin with medical information sites you know are the most reputable (government, university, medical publishers, etc.). Use multiple sources and find two or more credible authors with the same opinion.

Don't rely on self-diagnosis! You've probably read of people who suffered from mysterious ailments for years, finally diagnosing their maladies on the Internet. That does occasionally happen...but self-misdiagnosis is much more common. Health care information on the web can be a good supplement to medical reference books...but it is not a substitute for seeing your healthcare provider.

More Resources

The websites in the Seniors Digest Resource Center are reliable, respected sources.  Click on "Library," then scroll down to "Specific Health Issues" for sites pertaining to various conditions. For some good senior health and general healthcare sites, click on "Healthcare Websites." 

Healthfinder is the U.S. government web site for consumers, recognized as a key resource for finding the best government and nonprofit health and human services information on the Internet.   

The Health on the Net Foundation awards the "Hon Code" designation to trustworthy healthcare web sites. The Foundation also features a searchable directory of reputable sources.