Jen Searl, MLS, CHWC
If you’re like the majority of Americans (over 60%), you use the internet to find health information. And why wouldn’t you? The internet is full of answers to any question you could possibly have. However it’s important to remember that not all websites are created equal. Just because you read something on the internet does not mean that is true! Read below for things to look for when evaluating health websites.
- Source: Who is the owner of the website? For example, is it a non- profit, federal government agency, pharmaceutical company or other? Often the ‘About’ section on a website will give you this information.
- Bias: Is the website trying to sell you something? Is it difficult to tell what an advertisement is and what is fact?
- Quality: Where does the information come from? Is it based on solid research or personal experience?
- Date: When was the website last updated? Is the information current? Are there broken links?
You can tell a lot about a website from how it ends:
.gov = This website is owned and operated by the government. An example would be medlineplus.gov, an excellent source of health information
.org =This website is owned and operated by an organization. When looking for diabetes information, a great reputable source of information is the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org
.edu = This website is owned and operated by an educational institution, such as a college or university. An example would be www.health.harvard.edu, a division of Harvard Medical School
.com = This website is owned and operated usually by a commercial site. When looking at .coms, use the tips above. Some websites, like ours www.mghdiabeteseducation.com is a great source of health information! Others can be less reliable so use your judgment.
If you ever wonder if information you have read is true, make sure to talk with your diabetes educator. They know you and your diabetes best!