Often, the hardest part of using the Internet to search for information is figuring out whether the information on a web site is reliable, accurate or up-to-date.

Below is a checklist of things to look for on a web site. Imagine that each item is a worth a point — the more points a site receives the more likely it is to contain reliable information.

1. Site Sponsor
   Is the organization that put up the web site respected or trusted? When it comes to health information, the best information is likely to come from hospitals, physician practices or medical associations like the American Medical Association. Other good sources of information are universities, government agencies and well-known non-profit groups such as the American Cancer Society.
2. Site Author or Writer
   Who wrote the information on the site? Is he or she an expert? If the site lists the names and credentials of the people who contributed to the content, that’s a good sign. Experts in the field of health may include doctors, nurses, physical therapists, nutritionists and social workers.
3. Date
   Look for a date (often located at the top or the bottom of the page) that indicates when the site was last updated. Ideally, a site should have been updated fairly recently, say, in the last six to 12 months. This shows that the sponsors of the site are committed to keeping the information on it up to date.
4. Contact Information.
   If the people putting up the web site are proud of the accuracy of their information, have nothing to hide and really want to help, they should make it easy for you to contact them. So look for a mailing address, a phone number or an e-mail address on the site.
5. Site Maintenance
   When you’re trying to decide whether a web site is worth your time or not, click on some links. If too many of them are broken or not working, it may mean the site is not well-maintained and therefore not necessarily up to date. When web site sponsors take their online publishing seriously, they try to make sure the site looks professional and that the links work.

Important Note

The Internet is a great resource — a way for you to learn and find information on your own. But it’s only one part of your total health information equation. Paying attention to information given to you by your doctor, nurse or other healthcare provider, and talking to your healthcare team is important.

To learn more about evaluating information on the Internet, visit:

Health on the Net Foundation Code of Conduct

For examples of great health sites, visit:

Webby Award Winners: Health

---

For more information about Health On The Web training programs, click here.

Health on the Web is a program of the Einstein Center for Urban Health Policy and Research.