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Health Information on the Internet

This page was reviewed or revised on Monday, March 31, 2008.

Guidelines for Using Health Information from the Internet

The internet is full of information about health. This can be both a blessing and a curse. A simple search on a particular topic can yield literally thousands of "hits" or pages found. Wading through these to find the information that meets your individual needs can often be time consuming and frustrating. Reliability of the information is another pitfall. Since anyone with computer access can post information on the internet to be viewed anywhere in the world, the potential for misinformation is huge. The purpose of this fact sheet is to give consumers some guidelines and resources for using internet based health information more effectively. A little knowledge can make the difference between being well informed and being misinformed.

A further word of caution: Medical information from the internet should never act as a substitute for expert medical advice. Your doctor or primary caregiver knows your medical and family history and should always be your first source for information regarding your individual health and treatment of any illness. The internet can be a useful source of information and resources about healthy lifestyles, fitness, nutrition and many other health related areas, but this information, like any media, must be evaluated critically before being accepted or acted upon.

Consider the Source

You wouldn’t take medical advice from a complete stranger with no medical credentials. If you’re getting your information from the internet, you just may be. As mentioned earlier, anyone with a computer and the right software can post information on the internet and dress it up to look and sound "official". It’s important to know that internet sites are not monitored or checked for accuracy by any central body. So how can you determine whether the information you’re getting is from a legitimate source? Use the following guidelines to help you decide.

Suggested Criteria for Evaluating Internet Sites

• Is the site affiliated with a university medical school or professional organization? (such as the Canadian Paediatric Society or the University of Toronto)
• Are the credentials and educational backgrounds, affiliations, and/or board certifications of those providing the information listed?
• Does the article provide references to the original research information?
• Is the date of the most recent posting included?
• Are extremely positive claims avoided, particularly those made by a commercial sponsor? Are claims supported by references to the data source?
• Are recommendations that are considerably different than those made by the primary health care provider avoided?
• Is the site easily accessible? Is it easy to use? Is the information clearly written?
• Does the site provide a street address and phone number for verification.
  

The following sites offer information, advice and resources to help consumers choose reliable internet health sites:

www.hon.ch - Critiques health sites
www.quackwatch.com - Helps consumers distinguish between valid and unreliable internet health sites

Self Help and Support Groups

One of the most exciting aspects of the internet is the ability to create "on-line communities" of individuals who connect with each other through a shared interest in a particular issue. "Chat groups" or support sites are available on almost any topic under the sun, including many health issues, but consumers should approach these with caution. While it may be useful and even therapeutic to discuss issues and concerns with others who may have similar experiences, taking any advice from these groups may be risky if not downright dangerous. Again, any information that goes against the advice of your doctor should be regarded with suspicion.

Professional or Public?

Many professional organizations have web sites for connecting with their members. While information on many of these sites is good, it is not always written with the general public in mind. If the information seems highly technical or uses a lot of difficult language and jargon, you should discuss it with a medical professional. Some professional sites also have sections dedicated to information for the general public.

Commercial Sites

Commercial sites (any site with an address that ends in .com), are usually created to promote products or services. Just like you would with a radio or newspaper ad, beware of any claims that seem to good to be true. They usually are.

Linking to Better Health

Fortunately for consumers, there are many excellent sources of health information on the internet. The list below may help get you started.

www.lambtonhealth.on.ca - The Community Health Services site contains information on a wide variety of topics from child and infant health to immunization, food safety, physical activity and much much more.

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/index-eng.php - Public Health Agency of Canada

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/a - Health Canada online. Contains up to date health news, government publications and resources.

www.womenshealthmatters.ca - Provides consumers with the latest information, news and research findings on women’s health, diseases and lifestyle. Published by the Centre for Research in Women’s Health, Sunnybrook and Women’s Health Sciences Centre.

Surfing With a Safety Net

One final note of caution. They don’t call it the "world wide web" for no reason. With many sites linking to other related sites, it is very easy to get off track. Two clicks of your mouse can lead you far from where you started. Be careful where you end up. Remember to "bookmark" or add the best sites to your "favourites" so you can return to them when you need to.

References

Lamp, Jane. Howard, Patricia. Guiding Parents’ Use of the Internet for Newborn Education. MCN, Vol.24, No. 1, January/February 1999.

Pealer, Lisa. Dorman, Steve. Evaluating Health Related Web Sites. Journal of School Health, Aug 1997, Vol. 67, No. 6

Information Update, Centre for Health Promotion, University of Toronto.
Fall 1999.