Types of Health Information SourcesNow that we have a better idea of what makes a good source, let’s take a look at different types of information sources and consider the pros and cons of each. We will focus on the following source types:

• Educational and non-profit websites• Government websites• Websites owned by private companies• Personal blogs• Social media sites• Online discussion groups or forums• News articles• Medical wikis• Medical journals

Educational and Non-Profit SitesThese websites will end with a .edu or .org address. They exist to educate, rather than to make a profit. They are among the best sites to consult for information.

These sites are often good sources of health information because they generally provide unbiased information with the purpose of educating patients. Their information is typically written in plain language and reviewed by medical professionals.

Educational and Non-Profit SitesBe aware that educational sites may sometimes be written by students, and that even non-profit sites may promote an agenda, so it is still critical that you evaluate a source before you use it.

Examples: mayoclinic.org, mlanet.org, health.harvard.edu

Government WebsitesThese websites will end with a .gov address. They are run by the federal government and provide factual information for consumers. They are also among the best sources to consult.

Government websites are highly accountable for the information that they provide, as they are funded by taxpayers. Information is usually kept current and is written in plain language.

Government WebsitesBe advised that even government websites are not free from bias. While these websites often strive to be objective, lobbyists may place pressure on the government to promote an agenda.

Examples: medlineplus.gov, fda.gov, cdc.gov, nih.gov

Websites Owned by Private CompaniesThese websites end in a .com address, and are generally not as reliable as .edu, .org, or .gov sites.

Source evaluation is critical on these websites because they may be biased from the motivation to make a profit, they may have sponsored content that is not clearly identified, and they are not always written by medical professionals. In addition, information is not always kept current.

Websites Owned by Private CompaniesHowever, not all .com websites are poor sources of information. Some of them are regularly reviewed by professionals and may exist purely to educate consumers.

Examples: webmd.com, healthline.com, anthem.com, menshealth.com

Personal BlogsThese websites express the personal opinions of an individual. They are written in plain language, and new posts are added frequently.

In general, blogs are not a great source of health information because they are based on opinions. They also may have sponsored content, which further contributes to bias. Some are better than others, as some are written by doctors and others are not, but even the best ones do not undergo extensive review.

Examples: wellnessmama.com, hungryhealthhappy.com, healthbean.ca

THINK!Why should you avoid using a blog for medical information even if it’s run by a doctor?

THINK!Why should you avoid using a blog for medical information even if it’s run by a doctor?

ANSWER: Information you find on blogs is generally an opinion, not a fact. An opinion from a doctor is still just that: an opinion. In addition, blogs do not go under an the extensive review process that you see with other websites. Always consider the context in addition to the authority of the author.

Social Media WebsitesMost internet users have connected to social media at one time or another. You can find all sorts of information on social media sites, so it should not be surprising that it can be a source of health information.

In general, social media is not a good source of health information. Anyone can post on social media, so you cannot assume that what you find is accurate. Social media content is not reviewed in any way, and many posts are sponsored and reflect a biased perspective.

Social Media WebsitesHowever, it is possible to find good information on social media. Some doctors use sites like Facebook and Twitter to share information. If you find something intriguing on one of these sites, check for a source. If there is a source, you can track it down and evaluate the information for yourself. If no source is included, you should disregard it.

Social media also has the benefit of allowing for real-time interactions, so it can be a good place to find the latest information about a topic.

Examples: facebook.com, twitter.com, instagram.com

Online Discussion Groups and ForumsOnline discussion boards always users to communicate with and support others who face similar medical concerns.

On these websites, users may discuss methods of coping with a long-term illness, ask for opinions about treatment options, or consider the implications of new research.

Online Discussion Groups and ForumsWhile these sites are an important source of social support, they do face some of the same concerns that we see with social media sites.

Contributors may have extensive knowledge about a topic, but they are not medically trained. Content is not formally reviewed, although users may actively moderate their communities and remove inaccurate content as it is found. In general, these sites are a good source of support, but they should not replace the advice of a doctor.

Examples: listserv.acor.org, caregiveraction.org/forum

News ArticlesMost popular news outlets often report on the latest health-related news that they think will interest their audiences.

As such, these articles can be a good way to learn the latest information about a health topic that is written in plain language that is easy to understand. Content is reviewed in accordance with journalistic standards.

News ArticlesHowever, news articles are not an ideal source because they are not written by medical professionals. Therefore, it is especially important that you check that any studies are properly cited.

They are not free from bias, either, despite their authors best intentions. Many media outlets show a political bias. They also have sponsors that may have subtle influences on their content. Not all news sources are created equal, so stick to those with a good reputation.

Examples: nytimes.com, cnn.com, npr.org, khn.org

THINK!Why do some news sites end in .com while others end in .org? Does the difference in web address affect your overall judgment of the media source?

THINK!Why do some news sites end in .com while others end in .org? Does the difference in web address affect your overall judgment of the media source?

ANSWER: News sites ending in .com are run by companies and make a profit, whereas .org sites are run by non-profit organizations. This distinction leads .org sites to generally be the better source of health information because they will likely have less bias.

Medical WikisMedical wikis are sites that are run collaboratively by a community of users. Users share the responsibility of editing content. Most medical wikis are run by medical professionals.

Because most articles have more than one contributor and these contributors are not always listed on the site, it is difficult to assess authority. In addition, these wikis are typically written for other doctors, not patients, and may be hard to understand. They are also not always kept current.

Examples: wikidoc.org, askdrwiki.com, medpedia.com

THINK!

Is it okay to use Wikipedia as a health information source?

THINK!

Is it okay to use Wikipedia as a health information source?

ANSWER: Yes, depending on how you use it. Wikipedia makes it easy to find very general information, but it is not great for anything other than orienting yourself with a topic because of concerns about authority and credibility. Try checking the references section to find additional resources to aid you in your search.

Medical JournalsMedical journals are scholarly publications that report on the results of clinical research. They are written and reviewed extensively by medical professionals.

Medical journals are the most accurate source of health information.

However, they are generally not useful for the general public because they use medical terminology and may be difficult to understand. Articles are of very specific to a particular medical concern and patient group, so finding relevant information can be difficult. You may also need to purchase a subscription in order to view their content.

Examples: jamanetwork.com/journals/jama, www.bmj.com/theBMJ, www.nejm.org/