Reliable health information online uses high quality, recent, peer-reviewed research. People should look for balanced information and site transparency and avoid websites that use sensationalism or fear tactics.Access to balanced, credible, and inclusive health content from reliable sources allows people to make informed decisions about their health. This may also help people feel more confident going into discussions with their healthcare team.Avoiding misinformation online can be challenging due to the sheer amount of contradictory information available. Misinformation is false or misleading information that may deliberately aim to deceive people.There is no single way to confirm a site's reliability. However, the following tips and advice can help a person evaluate an online source's credibility.Evaluating health information onlinePeople can assess the website, the content itself, and the sourcing of health content online to ensure they are reading reliable information.The website itselfReliable sources of health information will be transparent about their intentions, ownership, and contact information. They may have an 'about us' section outlining their purpose.Websites that are trying to sell a product or service may be less reliable than websites that aim to explain or inform people. This is because they may favor the product or service they want to sell rather than offering a balanced view.Looking at a website's privacy policy and how they use personal information can also indicate their reliability. The National Institute on Aging suggests that looking at a website's URL or web address may be helpful to identify the type of source it is:government agency URLs end in .goveducational institute URLs end in .edunonprofit organization URLs typically end in .orgpersonal blogs and commercial website URLs may end in .comThe URL does not guarantee whether all information on the site is reliable, but it may be a good place to start.The contentReliable health content will be balanced, inclusive, and supported by high quality research. People should try to avoid content that uses the following:Sensationalism: Sensationalized content may use shocking and exciting language to catch a reader's attention rather than prioritizing accurate, balanced content.Fear tactics: A website may use misleading or exaggerated content to scare people and persuade them to believe a particular view.Confirmation bias: Sites may use language or limited research that only supports a certain perspective rather than offering balanced information and allowing the reader to decide.Sourcing and review processesReliable sources of health information will have evidence of research. This may be in the form of in-line citations or a source list that links to high quality studies and reviews that support or match the content's claims.It may also be a good idea to look at who wrote the content and their experience, if possible. Reliable sources will be transparent about when the content was written or updated and their review process. A recent review by a healthcare professional with expertise in the subject can be a good indicator of the content's quality. Medical research is constantly changing. Reliable sources of health information will carry out regular reviews to reflect this.Is Medical News Today a reliable site?Creating trustworthy content is at the core of MNT's mission. We prioritize up-to-date, in-depth health information to provide readers with a deeper understanding of their health.Here are some ways MNT works to create trustworthy, accurate, and reliable content:An established editorial processMedical News Today uses an established editorial process that focuses on the following four pillars in all of our content:learning and maintaining trusthigh journalistic standardsprioritizing accuracy, empathy, and inclusioncontinually monitoring and updating contentRead more about MNT's editorial process.Creating evidence-based, medically accurate contentMNT's Medical Affairs team consists of a diverse group of healthcare professionals from all corners of the healthcare industry. As well as evaluating the medical accuracy of our content before publication, the Medical Affairs team stays up to date with the latest advances in healthcare to provide readers with the most accurate, reliable information. Read more about MNT's Medical Affairs team.Prioritizing diversity and inclusionMNT is committed to amplifying and engaging with diverse voices when researching health information and creating content. We use conscious language to promote inclusion and equity when helping people understand their health.Read more about MNT's approach to content integrity.Social media and advocacy groupsHealth information on social media sites is often brief, which can make it harder to evaluate its reliability. However, it is a good idea to look for the same markers of reliability as any other website. For example:Is the content promoting something or earning the creator money?Is the creator transparent about any funding they receive?Does the creator provide any sources to support their claims?Does the creator have any proven healthcare credentials?Does the content use shocking or exaggerated language?Does the content offer a balanced view?If social media content involves a personal testimony or anecdote, it is important to remember that this is only one case. It does not guarantee that every person with the same health issue or situation will have the same experience.Advocacy groupsAdvocacy groups involve people with similar experiences. They may hope to promote a certain health issue or simply support one another.Anyone can create an advocacy group. Because they tend to focus on a single health topic or condition, there may also be a risk of bias. People can look for the same signs of reliability listed above when using content on advocacy group websites.»Learn more:How to advocate for yourself at the doctor's officeFinding and understanding peer-reviewed researchPeer review is a process in which an expert in a particular field reviews the work of another expert to assess its quality before publication. Experts consider peer-reviewed work the gold standard in scientific research.People can search for peer-reviewed studies and reviews in databases such as the National Center for Biotechnology Information.However, it is still important to consider the limitations of studies and research. Questions to ask may include:How old is the study or the research in the review?Is the study on cells, animals, or humans?What is the participant sample size?Does the study contain a diverse range of candidates?What uncontrolled variables might have affected the results?Has the study revealed a causal link or observed a correlation between two things?Is more research necessary on the subject?Predatory journalsPredatory journals misrepresent their publishing practices but claim to be legitimate. They may:violate copyrightfalsely claim to use peer reviewshide or misrepresent information about its publication or the editorial boardPredatory journals are not a reliable source of health information and typically prioritize profits over accurate, high quality information.Researching a journal's editorial board, publishing processes, and contact information can help people identify predatory journals.Speaking with a healthcare professionalSpeaking with a trusted healthcare professional is a good way to learn reliable health information tailored to a person's circumstances. Some people may prefer getting multiple opinions to feel fully informed about their health issue.People can also discuss health information they've found online with their healthcare team. A healthcare professional may also be able to recommend reputable sources of information for the person to use.»Learn more:Getting a second opinion without a referralFrequently asked questionsAre government health websites always the most reliable sources?Government health websites can be a good starting point for finding reliable health information. However, it is still a good idea for people to check the publication date, review process, and sources.Government health websites can be a good starting point for finding reliable health information. However, it is still a good idea for people to check the publication date, review process, and sources.What should someone do if they find contradictory health information online?If someone finds contradictory health information online, people can check:the quality of the references or sources that each site useswhen the information was published, updated, or reviewedif other reputable sources support one of the viewsif a healthcare professional recommends one source over the otherIf someone finds contradictory health information online, people can check:the quality of the references or sources that each site useswhen the information was published, updated, or reviewedif other reputable sources support one of the viewsif a healthcare professional recommends one source over the otherSummaryFinding reliable health content and avoiding misinformation online is increasingly challenging. However, people can take steps to assess the websites they use and the content they read.Check the publication date, the quality of the references, who reviewed the information, and the website's purpose.If in doubt, it is a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional. They can help a person understand the information they have found and recommend other reputable sources.
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