Worksheet
With a bit of detective work, you can find information you can trust.
Search for websites of well-known health institutions. Medical schools, professional health organizations, and hospitals often provide online health content.
Look for “.gov”, “.edu”, or “.org” in the web address. A “.gov” address means the site is run by a government agency. A “.edu” address indicates an educational institution. And a “.org” address often means a professional organization. A “.com” address means a for-profit company runs the site―and while it may still have some good information, the content may be biased.
Find out who wrote or reviewed the content. Look for health care providers such as doctors (MDs), nurses (RNs), or other licensed health professionals. Also look for an editorial policy. This policy can often tell you where the site gets its content and how it is reviewed.
Look for scientific references. Content is more reliable if it is based on scientific studies. Professional journals are good references. These include the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). Recent editions of medical textbooks are also good references.