How to Determine if Health Information Online Is Trustworthy
Whether you're searching for information on a particular health condition, evaluating a creator's claims about a product or practice, or trying to stay up-to-date on public health issues, many different voices share health information online, and some of them may be contradictory.
Some general best practices to keep in mind include:
Seek accurate, trustworthy information from doctors and researchers: You're less likely to get accurate, widely applicable information from people without medical training or a medical research background.
Consider what experts (and prior research) agree on: If something you've seen disagrees with what is generally accepted in the medical community, there should be high quality research to back it up and many reliable experts weighing in on it. Medical research and guidance may change over time with additional information, but if there isn't a lot of human research supporting a change, the information probably isn't reliable.
Accept medical advice only from a healthcare professional: The human body is complex. A medical professional can best evaluate whether or not a particular treatment or practice may work for you, given your individual medical information. Some advice you may find online can possibly endanger your health, so caution is best.
Be cautious, if the information sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't: Common red flags include miracle cures, false claims of conspiracy, and secret information someone doesn't want you to know.
Keep reading to learn more about finding reliable health information online, including identifying reliable sources, evaluating sources for bias, and finding additional support for those claims among experts.
What are the most reliable sources of health information?
Many different reliable sources of health information are available online. They may include:
Government websites
You can usually find reliable health information on government and international agency websites. These may include:
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
National Health Service (NHS)
World Health Organization (WHO)
National Library of Medicine (Stat Pearls, MedlinePlus)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
These websites often offer information for the public (meaning, you don't need to have a medical or research background to understand it). They also usually cite specific research that supports the points they make, which you can cross-check.
Medical associations
You can also get trustworthy information from medical associations. Licensed medical professionals in a speciality form these groups. Examples include:
The American Medical Association (AMA)
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA)
The American Dental Association (ADA)
American Psychological Association (APA)
American Psychiatric Association (APA)
These groups may publish recommendations for treating certain health conditions and provide general information on their websites and social media platforms.
Nonprofit and research organizations
You can also find quality medical information through large, national nonprofit organizations, such as advocacy organizations. However, it's important to still evaluate these sources for possible conflicts of interest and make sure the content they're sharing has been vetted by a medical professional. Examples include:
American Cancer Society (ACS)
American Heart Association (AHA)
Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Society of Intestinal Research (GI Society)
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Medical research
If you're looking for new medical research, you can often find that large research organizations share press releases about new research findings and that reputable national news publications may write stories about them. You can look at the research available in medical journals on a particular topic. Types of medical research can include:
research studies
clinical trials
reviews of research and clinical trials
You can search for these on PUBMED through the National Library of Medicine.
Some things to look for include:
Studies in humans: For the most applicable information, look for studies involving humans rather than animals (in vivo) or cells in test tubes (in vitro). For instance, how a rat or a test tube of human cells reacts to a substance may not be how the human body reacts to it. A lot of research uses animal and test tube studies, that is then evaluated in humans in further studies.
Reviews of research: Research reviews involve researchers compiling the results of multiple studies to draw larger conclusions and propose additional research. Again, look for reviews that focus on research in humans for more applicable information.
Larger studies: Studies involving large numbers of people (hundreds to thousands or more) usually have more reliable and applicable results than those involving smaller groups. Studies in small numbers of people are often repeated in larger groups if they're deemed successful and safe.
Conflicts of interest: Published research requires researchers to identify conflicts of interest. For example, if a research study on the effectiveness of a skin care product was funded by the skin care product's company, the researchers have to state that.
Peer review: Research published in reputable medical journals undergoes a peer review process before it's accepted for publication. Look for mentions that other experts in the field reviewed the research.
Evaluating creator content and firsthand experiences
Many health content creators want to help others by sharing what they've learned.
However, it's important to evaluate whether they are an accurate source of information and whether the information shared is accurate.
Some things to look for include:
Sources: Consider the source of the information and the creators' sources. Not sharing their sources or basing their information on unreliable sources is a red flag. Always check if their sources and information contradict established, trustworthy sources.
Bias and conflicts of interest: Conflicts of interest can be financial, ideological, or professional. Ask yourself what the creator is getting out of sharing this content. Is the creator making money or increasing their status by promoting a particular product, brand, or ideology? Consider how this might affect what they say about it.
Credentials and licensure: If the creator is a licensed medical professional or a medical organization, you can find their credentials online. If they have had their medical credentials retracted or have been involved in medical scandals, they are not a good source for medical information.
Backed by research: Do the claims the creator is making sound too good to be true? Can you find the information they're sharing backed up by reputable sources above? If you can't find reliable support for their claims, they are probably not accurate.
AI-generated: If the information was AI-generated, it's especially important to verify it against reputable, reliable sources. While AI can be an important tool in the medical field, many topics are too complex or nuanced to be explained by AI summaries without expert oversight. People may also use AI to generate fictitious information and false videos and photos, so it's best practice to be skeptical and research the information through other means.
Product claims: Many platforms require a person to declare if the content is sponsored, but having sponsors may also affect content that isn't specifically sponsored. If the creator is promoting a specific product or brand, consider how promoting it may benefit them and how that may affect their message. You can look for consumer reviews on other websites and review the brand on the Better Business Bureau (BBB). It's also best to talk with a healthcare professional before using any new medical devices, products, supplements, or eating plans.
First-hand experience
You may find that creators with a particular health condition provide accurate and engaging first-hand experiences of living with that condition. They may have tips and advice from their lived experience. Some websites also have forums where people with a particular health condition can share their experiences.
However, it's important to keep in mind that the human body is complex and that one person's experience might not necessarily reflect others'. While the information you receive from creators may be a good starting point for research or for talking about with a healthcare professional, it's not a good idea to accept it immediately without further investigation.
Remember, it is illegal for medical professionals to give medical advice online without seeing a patient in their practice.
If you're looking to connect with other people with your condition, resources like Healthline's Bezzy communities offer an online safe space of community, peer and expert guidance, and support.
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