When you are searching for health information online, remember to check if it is reliable, current, and accurate. Use the guidelines below to help you evaluate the information you find. 

Currency. 

• Consider: When was the information posted? Has it been updated? Are the links functional?
• Reposted old information does not make it new again!

Relevance. 

• Consider: Does the information match your topic and answer your question? Who is the information intended for? Is it written at the appropriate level? Have you compared this source to others?

Authority.

• Consider: Who is the author or publisher? Are they real and credible? Are they qualified to write on the topic? Could they have any potential bias? Are they trying to sell you something?

Accuracy.

• Consider: Where does the information come from? Is there any supporting evidence (references)? Is it free from spelling and other errors?
• Look at the supporting sources/references/evidence:
  • What type of study is the information based on?
  • If research-based, was the research conducted on humans?
  • How many people were involved in the study?
  • If intervention/exposure based was there a control group? Was the study randomized?
  • Does the information source match what the study assessed?

Purpose.

• Consider: What is the purpose of the information? Are they trying to sell you anything? Is the information biased?