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Evaluating Websites

First look for quality seals on the website like those from HON Code or URAC. While these seals do not validate the quality of the specific information presented they are awarded to websites that adhere to a set of principles like authority (information presented by qualified professionals) and transparency of content (authors, sponsors and research are referenced).

Many websites deserving of such codes may not have applied for them or are in the process of being reviewed, so while their presence provides a reassuring starting point, their absence does not necessarily imply poor quality. Thus, it’s important to know how to evaluate websites on their own merit.

Three Areas of Consideration

There are 3 main areas to consider when you evaluate the reliability of a website:

1. Authority

2. Accuracy

3. Currency

1. Authority

Is it clear who created, runs and pays for the website? This information is often available in an “About Us” link.

Are they qualified to address your needs? If you are looking for evidence-based answers to specific questions, make sure it is a qualified organization or healthcare professional(s) with expertise in your area of interest. If you are looking for a patient perspective, health advocacy organizations or patient discussion boards may offer useful information too.

Do the organizations or individuals have potential conflicts of interest that may influence the accuracy of information? (See the discussion below.)

2. Accuracy

Who assembles the content? Are they qualified health professionals or professional writers? If professional writers, is the material reviewed by qualified health professionals?

Is the information based on a balanced review of published research evidence rather than on testimonial evidence or purely expert opinion? In addition, are there conflicts of interest such as sponsorship by drug manufacturers or products or services being sold that may bias the information?

Have the citations or links to referenced research been provided, so that you can retrieve, read and evaluate that research yourself? (If so, the approach provided in the Evaluating Research section below can help you do this.)

3. Currency

Does the website display when the information was written and last reviewed? Is this information up to date?

Resources: Evaluating Websites

Super Smart Health

Empowering Health and Wellbeing

Evaluating Websites

Three Areas of Consideration

1. Authority

2. Accuracy

3. Currency