You may assess the credibility of health information you find online by looking at its sources, assessing it for bias, and comparing it to what other reliable sources have to say about the subject.
Many diverse voices publish health information online, some of which may be conflicting, whether you’re looking for information on a specific health condition, assessing a creator’s claims about a product or service, or attempting to remain current on public health topics.
The following are some general best practices to remember:
- Ask scholars and medical professionals for reliable, accurate information: People without medical expertise or a background in medical research are less likely to provide you with reliable information that is broadly applicable. Think about what professionals (and earlier studies) concur on:
- There should be excellent research to support anything you’ve seen that deviates from mainstream medical wisdom, as well as the opinions of other trustworthy professionals.
- Additional information may lead to changes in medical research and guidelines over time, but if there is little human research to back a change, the information is most likely unreliable.
- Only follow medical advice from a qualified healthcare provider:
- The human body is intricate.
- Given your specific medical information, a medical practitioner is best suited to determine if a given treatment or practice could be effective for you.
- Caution is advised since some of the information you may obtain online may be harmful to your health.
- Be wary; if something seems too good to be true, it most likely isn’t: Miracle cures, unfounded conspiracy theories, and confidential information that someone doesn’t want you to know are examples of common red flags.
To discover more about locating trustworthy health information online, including how to spot trustworthy sources, assess them for bias, and get more expert support for those statements, continue reading.
Which sources of health information are the most trustworthy?
Online resources for health information are many and trustworthy.
They could consist of:
Websites run by the government
Generally speaking, trustworthy health information can be found on websites run by international organizations and the government.
These could consist of:
- Health Institutes of the Nation (NIH) Disease Control and Prevention Centers (CDC) The NHS, or National Health Service Organization for World Health (WHO) MedlinePlus and Stat Pearls from the National Library of Medicine FDA stands for Food and Drug Administration.
These websites frequently include information that is accessible to the general public, so you don’t need to be an expert in medicine or research to grasp it.
You can cross-check the exact study they typically use to bolster their arguments.
Associations for medicine
Medical associations are another source of reliable information.
These groups are made up of licensed medical professionals with specialized training.
Among the examples are:
- Medical Association of America (AMA) Pediatrics’ American Academy (AAP) The Association of American Academy of Dermatology (AADA) The ADA, or American Dental Association Association of American Psychologists (APA) Psychiatric Association of America (APA)
These organizations could provide both broad information and therapy recommendations for particular medical conditions on their websites and social media accounts.
Research and nonprofit organizations
Large, nationwide nonprofit organizations, including advocacy groups, can also provide you with high-quality medical information.
It’s crucial to still check these sources for potential conflicts of interest and confirm that the information they provide has been approved by a medical expert. Among the examples are:
