This document provides guidance on how to evaluate the reliability of health information found online. It discusses how many Americans use the internet to research health topics but notes there are few regulations, so information cannot always be trusted. It outlines the "ABCs" of evaluation: accuracy, authority, bias, currency, and comprehension. Specific criteria are provided to assess websites based on these factors. Recommended reliable sources like MedlinePlus and Mayo Clinic are highlighted and their credibility is analyzed using the evaluation criteria. The objective is to help readers become informed health consumers by learning to critically evaluate online health information.

1. Finding Reliable Health
Information on the Internet
Christine Caufield-Noll, MLIS, AHIP
Community Health Library
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Summer 2012

2. Objective and Goals
• Objective
– to help you be an informed partner in your
health care
• Goals
– you will understand how to evaluate a
health website
– you will learn how to use MedlinePlus.gov for
disease, drug, and directory information
– you will be aware of other reliable drug
websites on the Internet

3. Did you know?
• A Pew Internet survey reported that 57% of
American adults use the Internet to find
healthcare information
• The most commonly-researched topics are
specific diseases or conditions; treatments or
procedures; and doctors or other health
professionals.
• A typical search for health information is on
behalf of someone else – information access by
proxy
Source: http://www.pewinternet.org/Commentary/2011/November/
Pew-Internet-Health.aspx

4. About the Internet
• No one is in charge
• There are few rules and regulations
• Anyone can build a website
• No educational or professional
qualifications are necessary
• Therefore, you cannot automatically trust
information found on the Web
From: Internet Power Searching: The advanced manual,
Phil Bradley, Neal-Schuman Publishers

5. Remember the ABCs of evaluation
Accuracy
Authority
Bias
Currency
Comprehension

6. Remember the ABCs of evaluation
Accuracy
• Does the site provide references to scientific
literature? (popular media doesn’t count)
Authority
• Is the information from a credible source?
(check the About Us section and the site’s domain)
Bias
• Who pays for the site? Are ads/sponsored
content clearly labeled?

7. Remember the ABCs of evaluation
Currency
• Are there dates on the material? (under 5 yrs)
Comprehension
• Is the information understandable and the site
easy to navigate?

8. Warning
• Watch out for sites like
– WebMD.com
– Gerd.com
– DrKoop.com
• These sites and other like them may have
some reliable information, but their main
goal is not to educate the user but to
generate money

9. But how can I tell if a health
website is reliable or not?

10. Example website evaluation
• Mayo Clinic’s Healthy Aging center
– http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-
aging/MY00374
– This site is in the top results for a Google
search of senior health
• Let’s check it out using our ABC’s of
evaluation criteria

12. Ads by
Google

15. “Our mission is to empower people
to manage their health. We
accomplish this by providing useful
and up-to-date information and
tools that reflect the
expertise and standard of
excellence of Mayo Clinic.”

16. “The senior medical editors are
experienced Mayo Clinic
clinicians and educators…They
work on a daily basis with Web
content producers and editors to
ensure that all content is
accurate, clear and relevant.
Specialty medical editors…work
with our editorial staff to bring you
timely, relevant and accurate
information and tools.”

17. “MayoClinic.com maintains a
distinct separation between
advertising content and editorial
content. All advertising content on
MayoClinic.com…is clearly
labeled as an advertisement.
Sponsored areas of the site are
labeled as such, and the
sponsoring organizations are
identified.”

21. Thank you!
Please call Christine at
410-550-0681 or email her
at ccaufie1@jhmi.edu
if you have any questions