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Summary
Millions of consumers get health information from magazines, TV or the Internet. Some of the information is reliable and up to date; some is not. How can you tell the good from the bad?
First, consider the source. If you use the Web, look for an "about us" page. Check to see who runs the site: Is it a branch of the government, a university, a health organization, a hospital or a business? Focus on quality. Does the site have an editorial board? Is the information reviewed before it is posted? Be skeptical. Things that sound too good to be true often are. You want current, unbiased information based on research.
NIH: National Library of Medicine
Related Issues
- Health Literacy: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- Miracle Health Claims (Federal Trade Commission) Also in Spanish
- Our Commitment to Reliable Health and Medical Information (Health on the Net Foundation)
- Understanding Health Risks: Improve Your Chances for Good Health (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
Specifics
- Cancer Information on the Internet (American Cancer Society)
- Deciphering Media Stories on Diet: Nutrition in the News (Harvard School of Public Health)
- Finding Reliable Health Information Online (National Human Genome Research Institute)
- How to Find Reliable ENT Info (American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)
- Understanding Health News (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health) Also in Spanish
Videos and Tutorials
- Evaluating Internet Health Information: A Tutorial from the National Library of Medicine (National Library of Medicine)
Statistics and Research
- Internet Use for Health Information (Health Resources and Services Administration)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Health Literacy Risk in Older Adults With and Without Mild Cognitive...
- Article: Health Literacy Evaluation of Opioid Patient Education Materials for Orthopaedic Surgery.
- Article: Evaluating the Readability of Online Patient Education Materials Regarding Shoulder Surgery:...
- Evaluating Health Information -- see more articles
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Patient Handouts
- Online health information - what can you trust? (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish