This document provides guidance on searching for health information within trusted websites. It recommends starting with sites known to provide credible information, such as those run by government agencies or medical organizations. The steps outlined are to select an appropriate website, use broad search terms, choose the most relevant result, navigate pages to find desired information, and evaluate what is found to ensure it is accurate, current and answers the question. Characteristics of trustworthy health websites include being written by medical professionals and kept up to date.

1. Searching within a Website
In this section, we will explore how to search for
information within a trusted website.
In general, you should start your search on a website
you know and trust because you know that
information you find there is likely to be credible.
However, remember to always check that information
is current and unbiased even when using reputable
sites.

2. Steps to Searching Within a Website
When searching for health information on a website,
follow the steps below to stay on track.
1. Select an appropriate website to use
2. Select broad keywords and search
3. Select the most relevant result
4. Find the desired information. Navigate to another
page if necessary.
5. Evaluate the information that you found.

3. Step 1: Selecting a Site
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American Medical Association
• Center for Disease Control
• Eldercare Locator
• Family Caregiver Alliance
• Family Doctor
• Health Finder
• Health.gov
• KidsHealth.org
• Mayo Clinic
• Medicare.gov
• MedlinePlus
• National Cancer Institute
• National Institute on Aging
• National Institutes of Health
• National Library of Medicine
• NetWellness
• US Food and Drug Administration
As you become more comfortable searching for health information
online, you will likely develop your own list of reliable sources. The
following sources are a good starting point. Additional resources are
available in the last section of this tutorial.

4. THINK!
Based on what you know about evaluating sources,
what are some characteristics that you would expect
the sites on the previous slide to have that make them
credible?

5. THINK!
Based on what you know about evaluating sources,
what are some characteristics that you would expect
the sites on the previous slide to have that make them
credible?
ANSWER: These websites are run by the government
or professional organizations, written and/or
reviewed by medical professionals, and kept current.
They are also written specifically for consumers or
patients, not doctors.

6. Selecting a Site
Because there are many credible websites online, it
can be difficult to choose which one to use to start
your search.
When selecting a starting point, consider the
specialization and target audience of each site.
Sites that specialize in the condition you want to learn
more about are the most likely to have the
information you’re looking for. If you aren’t aware of
such a site, start with a more general site instead.

7. In order to choose the correct keywords, it is necessary to
consider the structure of the websites you consult.
Most medical websites follow a similar structure: they
have main pages about disease or conditions and either
have subsections or subpages for specific information
about that disease, such as signs, symptoms, or
treatments.
This structure makes it most effective for you to start with
a general search and use a site’s built in navigation tools to
find the information you are looking for. Specific terms
may not always yield the right results.
Step 2: Select Keywords and Search

8. Using the Search Bar
On most consumer health websites, the search bar is
located on the upper right of the screen.
Complete your search by typing in your keyword(s) and
hitting enter on your keyboard or clicking the “go” or
“search” button.
The image below is an example of what these search bars
look like. The search bar is outlined in red.

9. Using the Search Bar
Sometimes, a website may offer suggestions of terms to
use as you’re typing in your search. These can be helpful,
but be sure only use suggestions that are relevant to your
inquiry. If none seem relevant, use your own terms
instead.
The image on the right shows
search suggestions provided
by the National Cancer
Institute’s web page when
searching the phrase “bone
marrow.”

10. Step 3: Selecting Results
Most results pages will include the title of each page and a brief
description of what you will find on that page.
Some websites will also provide options for
narrowing your search to meet your specific
needs. The image to the left shows
suggestions provided by the Mayo Clinic for
narrowing results.
You should select the result that seems
most relevant. If none of the results appear
to address your specific question, see if you
can find a general overview. You may be
able to navigate to the page you need from
this general page.

11. THINK!
You are looking for
information about the
risks faced by individuals
who choose to donate a
kidney. Which of these
results should you
select?

12. THINK!
You are looking for
information about the
risks faced by individuals
who choose to donate a
kidney. Which of these
results should you
select?
ANSWER: The “Long-
term risks for kidney
donors” is the most
relevant result.

13. Step 4: Find the Information
Scan the webpage to see if the information you are
looking for appears. Remember to use CTRL + F to
search for terms within a page.
Sometimes, you may to navigate to a different page to
find the right information. Check for links to other
pages on the topic, often located on the sidebar or the
top of the page.

14. Navigation Example
In this example from the American Society of Hematology,
information seekers can navigate from the overview of anemia
to more specific pages about the condition listed on the left.

15. Step 5: Evaluate the Information
Even when you start with a trusted website, it is important
to evaluate the information you find on the site to make
sure it is accurate and useful to you.
As discussed in the previous section of this tutorial, you
should consider the following:
• Is the information factual?
• Is the information current?
• Does the information answer my question?
• Is the information consistent with other sources?

16. Next Steps
Sometimes, you may be unable to find what you are
looking for on the website of your choice, despite your
best effort.
When you encounter this problem, you can try
searching a different reputable website, or you may
trying using Google or a different search engine.
We will examine strategies for searching for medical
information on Google in the next module.