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There are a huge number of websites on medical issues on the
Internet, which vary greatly in quality. How do you tell which
websites contain quality information?
Here are a few suggestions/tips to guide you as you search
the Internet for medical information:
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Currency |
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Check how recently the web site was updated. You
will want the most recent medical information available. |
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Authorship |
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Who are the authors? What are their qualifications?
What are their affiliations? Do they cite their sources? Do
the authors make extravagant claims or offer health advice?
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Site Sponsor |
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- Who sponsors the web site? Is it the web site of an educational
institution, a government web site, a respected organization
such as the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes
Association?
- Is the web site commercial, is it selling something?
- The Internet address, or URL, can provide a useful clue
in assessing a web site:
- Does the URL contain a ".com"? If so, it
is a commercial site. These sites, no matter how good
they are, exist to advertise and sell products.
- URLs that contain an ".edu" are sponsored
by educational institutions, for example, Johns Hopkins.
- URLs that contain a ".gov " are government
sponsored, for example, the National Cancer Institute.
- URLs that have a ".org" are sponsored by
organizations such as the American Heart Association
or the American Diabetes Association.
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General Tips |
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- Is the web site targeted to the general public?
- Is it easy to read and understand?
- is it too technical to read?
- Does it appear comprehensive?
- Does it answer your questions?
- Are clear definitions supplied?
- Is the web site well-illustrated?
- Is it easy to navigate (get around) within the web site?
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