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How to Find Trustworthy Health Information
We know we can ’ t trust everything we read on the internet. So, where can you go for accurate, research-backed health and medical information — without reaching out to your doctor?
The following nonprofit sites are a good place to start: American Cancer Society American Heart Association Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Medline Plus WebMD Beyond the web, where can you find the health answers you need? Your local libraries companies whose primary purpose is to sell you something and/or get access to your contact information.”
Know the source of the information.
“Patients and families should be careful when using the internet to find health information,” says Catherine (Cathy) Hanson, director of Patient Engagement and Patient and Family Centered Care at the University of Miami Health System. When searching online for answers to general health-related questions, look at the source of the information to determine if it ’ s reliable. Trustworthy health information is based on peer-reviewed research (multiple researchers have reviewed and approved the information) and clinically proven findings (tested according to federal guidelines), not anecdotal evidence and personal stories. “Look at the extension of each website,” Hanson says. “If the extension is a .org, .gov, or .edu, chances are good that the site is reliable. Be cautious about information on sites that end with .com or .net extensions. Many of these are
Catherine (Cathy) Hanson, director of Patient Engagement and Patient and Family Centered Care at the University of Miami Health System
Hanson says that, “Libraries of all types, including public and medical libraries, are important partners in community-based health literacy (information described in terms everyone can understand). Librarians advance health literacy in their communities through a variety of methods.” Your library can: Show you how to find reliable information online. Conduct health literature searches. Print resources for you to take home and read. Refer you to local health services. Are you or a family member are facing a new medical diagnosis or seeking information about managing a chronic condition? A support group could help.
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