Is this health information reliable?

Two steps first

You don’t need to be an expert. You need a few questions and someone to ask.

MedlinePlus, from the US National Library of Medicine, says some health information in newspapers, magazines, books, TV, the internet and social media is up to date and trustworthy, and some is not. It gives two key steps:

1. Ask questions before you trust what you read or hear. The questions are below. They work for a website, a video, a social media post, a news story or an answer from an AI chatbot.

2. Talk about it with your health care provider before you rely on it. MedlinePlus says you may have found good information, but your provider can tell you whether it is good for you.

This guide explains how to check information. It does not judge any treatment, product or claim.

Who runs it?

If you can’t find out who is behind it, MedlinePlus says the site may not be trustworthy.

• Look for an “About us” page. MedlinePlus and the US National Institute on Aging (NIA) both say most of the answers to these questions are usually there. MedlinePlus adds that trustworthy sites give a way to contact the owners.
• Know the kinds of publishers to look for. MedlinePlus says you will generally find good health information on sites run by federal government agencies, medical schools, and large professional or nonprofit organizations. NIA says health websites sponsored by federal government agencies are, as a rule, accurate, and that hospitals and academic medical institutions may also be reliable.
• Read the web address. NIA explains that in the United States .gov identifies a government agency, .edu an educational institution, .org usually a nonprofit, and .com a commercial site. Many commercial sites give accurate information, NIA says, but it can be hard to tell it apart from marketing.
• A link is not an endorsement. NIA notes that a site linking to a trustworthy source does not mean that source supports it.

Why does it exist, and who pays?

Knowing who pays for something helps you understand what it is for.

• Inform, sell, or persuade? MedlinePlus suggests asking whether a site is there to inform the public, to sell products or services, or to promote the opinions of a person or group. Its answer: a trustworthy website has one goal, to give you good information.
• Follow the money. Both MedlinePlus and NIA say that if a business pays for a site, its health information may favor that business and its products.
• Spot the ads. Both say advertisements should be clearly marked, and to watch out for ads designed to look like neutral health information.

Where’s the evidence?

Good health information shows its working.

• Sources. MedlinePlus says content pages should have links or references to where the information comes from. NIA says dependable sites share sources and citations.
• Authors and review. NIA suggests checking whether the author is an expert in the field, whether they have any financial stake, and, if not an expert, whether a health professional reviewed it. MedlinePlus suggests looking for an editorial board of health experts, a content review process and the writers’ qualifications.
• Balance. MedlinePlus says good health information gives balanced facts based on research and does not promote one treatment over another.
• Personal stories. NIA says to be cautious about testimonials, individual blogs and discussion boards: personal stories can help and comfort, but not everyone experiences health problems the same way.
• More than one source. When a site seems trustworthy, MedlinePlus says not to stop there, but to see whether other reliable sites have similar information.

How old is it?

Health information goes out of date.

• MedlinePlus says content pages should show when the information was written, reviewed or updated.
• NIA notes the date is often at the bottom of the page, and that pages on the same site may be updated at different times. Older information isn’t useless, it says, but the most current, evidence-based information is best.

Is it selling something?

Promises that sound too good to be true are a warning sign.

MedlinePlus describes health fraud scams as selling medicines, supplements, devices, foods or cosmetics that have not been proven to work, and says they can waste money, be dangerous and keep people from the treatment they need. The red flags it lists include:

• claims that one product treats or cures many unrelated diseases;
• personal testimonials, including by actors playing “real” people or “doctors”;
• conspiracy claims that the government or drug companies are hiding a cure;
• phrases such as “miracle cure”, “quick fix”, “secret ingredient”, “ancient remedy”, “scientific breakthrough” or “no-risk money-back guarantee”;
• scientific-sounding words that don’t make sense for the product, and mentions of famous prizes.

NIA gives the same caution about sites that offer quick and easy solutions or promise miracle cures. MedlinePlus says to talk to your health care provider before taking an unproven or little-known product, especially if you take prescription medicines.

To practice spotting the signs, try the Real or scam? practice cards.

What happens to your information?

A health site, app or quiz may ask for more than it needs.

• Read the privacy policy. MedlinePlus suggests checking how a site will use your personal information, and not sharing information about yourself unless you are comfortable with the risks.
• Cookies and apps. NIA explains that cookies let a website collect and remember information about your visit, and that health apps may ask for your location, email or other details and collect data as you use them. It suggests knowing who made an app and how your information will be used before you download it.
• Identity numbers. NIA advises being careful about sharing your Social Security number: find out why it is needed and how it will be used, and consider giving it to your doctor’s office or insurer by phone instead.
• Links. NIA says not to open unexpected links. See phishing in our glossary.

Posts, videos and news stories

A post from a friend can still be wrong.

• Social media. MedlinePlus says a post may come from someone you know, but that doesn’t guarantee it is good information; ask where it comes from, why it exists and whether anyone is funding it. NIA says to check the source and make sure the original author is credible.
• The Surgeon General’s checklist. For any health content you are not sure about, the Office of the US Surgeon General suggests: check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or your local public health department; ask a credible health professional such as your doctor or nurse; search for the claim to see if a credible source has verified it; and look at the website’s “About us” page.
• If you’re not sure, don’t share. The Surgeon General’s checklist says so. The Surgeon General describes misinformation as information that is false, inaccurate or misleading according to the best available evidence at the time, and says it spreads especially easily on social media, online retail sites and through search engines.
• News about research. MedlinePlus suggests asking whether the research involved people or animals, how many people and who they were, how long the study lasted, what kind of study it was, and who paid for it.

Answers from an AI chatbot

The same questions apply, with one more: where did this come from?

A chatbot’s answer has no “About us” page of its own. Ask it for its sources, then open them and ask the questions above of each one: who runs it, who pays, what evidence it gives and how old it is. If the answer names no source you can open, treat it as unchecked.

Asking an AI chatbot about money, health or government explains, from official sources, what chatbots get wrong, what not to type in, and how to check an answer.

Take it to your appointment

Online information is one tool. Your clinician knows your situation.

• NIA says no online information, however accurate, should replace seeing a health care professional who can evaluate your situation, and suggests discussing what you find with your doctor before making changes to your care.
• MedlinePlus says to talk with your provider before using health information to make decisions that may affect your health.
• Write down what you read and where, with the date, and bring it with you. If you are not sure where to get care or what it costs, Finding and paying for care explains the options.

A one-page checklist

Print it, or keep it on your phone.