Health & Medicine

Checklist for Evaluating Health Websites

• Is the information current? When researching a health topic on the internet, check to see when the information was last reviewed. Has it been reviewed in the last few years? Outdated health information can be harmful.
• Is the information accurate? Don’t rely on just one source for your health information needs. Check a few reliable sources to see if the information is confirmed by other websites.
• Does the website name end in a .gov, .edu, or a .org? These websites are more likely to be promoting valuable and updated health information. However, always double check and don’t rely on just one source.
• Is the website free of advertisements? Websites full of advertisements are often more focused on selling advertisement space than providing sound information. Be critical of these websites and always double check the information.
• If you are not sure about a website or any health information source, ask a librarian to help you!