Finding medical information on the internet can become a task of considerable complexity. Not so much because of the immediacy with which we reach a source of information, but, even more so, because of its quality.
Questions to ask yourself before trusting medical information
In this sense, it is very common that during our search for specialized medical articles on the Internet we come across a series of notes that, beyond illustrating our lack of knowledge about a topic, distort the real content on that specific topic.
Therefore, we leave you some questions that you should ask yourself before trusting a website.
When you search the Internet, you are likely to find websites for many health agencies and organizations that are not well known. Answering the following questions can help you learn more about those sites. Many of these details can be found in the “About Us” section of the website.
1. Who sponsors/manages the website? Is that information easily found?
Creating and updating websites costs money. Can it be clearly identified where the funds to maintain the site come from? Knowing who is sponsoring the website can give you an idea of the mission or purpose of the site. Sometimes the website address itself (called a URL) is useful.
For example:
.gov identifies government agencies
.edu identifies educational institutions, such as a school, college, or university
.org typically identifies nonprofit organizations (such as professional groups; scientific, medical, or research societies; advocacy groups)
.com identifies websites for commercial purposes (such as businesses, pharmaceutical companies, and sometimes hospitals)
2. Who wrote the information? Who reviewed it?
Often, but not always, authors and contributors can be identified. If the author is listed, ask yourself: is this person an expert on the subject? Does this person work for an organization and, if so, what are the goals of the organization?
The link between a contributor and the website, and any financial interest that the contributor has in the information that appears there, must be clear.
3. When was the information written?
Find websites that keep your health information up to date. You don’t want to make decisions about your health care based on outdated information. Often a date appears at the bottom of the page. Pages within the same website may be updated at different times, some more frequently than others. It’s not that the least up-to-date information doesn’t work, but it’s better to use the most up-to-date, evidence-based information from NOW.
4. What is the purpose of the website?
Why did they create it? Know the reason or purpose of the website so that you can better judge its content. Is the purpose of the site to inform or explain? Or are you trying to sell some product? Choose information based on scientific evidence rather than one person’s opinion.
Trust your gut and talk to a doctor
Use common sense and good judgment when searching for health information on the Internet.
There are websites for almost every health-related topic, and many lack rules to monitor the quality of the information provided. Use the information you find on the Internet as a tool to inform yourself better. But don’t just count on a website.
Lastly, consult with your doctor about what you find before making any changes in your medical care.
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