Evaluating information

Any good health-related Web site should make it easy for you to learn who is responsible for the site and its information. On this site, for example, Park Nicollet Health Services is clearly marked on every major page of the site, along with a link to the Park Nicollet homepage.

It costs money to run a Web site. The source of a Web site’s funding should be clearly stated or readily apparent. For example, Web addresses ending in “.gov” denote a federal government-sponsored site; “.edu” indicates an educational facility; and “.org” a nonprofit entity. You should know how the site pays for its existence. Does it sell advertising? Is it sponsored by a drug company? The source of funding can affect the content that is presented, how it is presented and what the site owners want to accomplish.

This question is related to who runs and pays for the site. An “About This Site” link appears on many sites. If it is there, please use it. The purpose of the site should be clearly stated and should help you evaluate the trustworthiness of the information.

Many health and medical sites post information collected from other Web sites or sources. If the person or organization in charge of the site did not create the information, the original source should be clearly labeled.

In addition to identifying who wrote the material you are reading, the site should describe the evidence that the material is based on. Medical facts should include references (such as articles in medical journals). Also, opinions or advice should be clearly set apart from information that is “evidence-based” (supported by research).

You should verify that there is an editorial board or that people with professional and scientific qualifications review the material before it is posted.

Web sites should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis. It is particularly important that medical information be current. The most recent update or review date should be clearly posted. Even if the information has not changed, site owners should have reviewed it recently to ensure its validity.

Web sites usually have a policy about how they establish links to other sites. Some medical sites take a conservative approach and do not link to other sites. Some link to any site that asks — or pays — for a link. Others only link to sites that have met certain criteria.

Web sites routinely track the paths visitors take through their sites to determine what pages are being used. However, many health Web sites ask you to “subscribe” or “become a member.” In some cases, this is to collect a user fee or select information for you that is relevant to your concerns. In all cases, this will give the site personal information about you.

Any credible health site asking for this kind of information should tell you exactly what they will and will not do with it. Many commercial sites sell “aggregate” (collected) data about their users to other companies. For example, the percentage of users who are women with breast cancer.

In some cases, sites may collect and reuse information that is “personally identifiable,” such as your ZIP code, gender and birth date. Be certain that you read and understand any privacy policy or similar language on the site, and do not sign up for anything that you are not sure you fully understand.

There should always be a way for you to contact the site owner if you run across problems or have questions or feedback. If the site hosts chat rooms or other online discussion areas, it should explain the terms of using the service. Is it moderated? If so, by whom and why? It is always a good idea to spend time reading the discussion without joining in, so that you feel comfortable before becoming a participant.