Brief guide to evaluating the information on a health website. Part of a LibGuide.

1. Evaluating Information
In general, reputable sources will provide high quality
information. However, it is always a good idea to take
a close look at the information itself to make sure that
it is reliable and suitable for your needs.

2. Evaluating Information Checklist
When examining the information on a page, ask
yourself the following questions:
• Is the information factual or opinion-based?
• Is the information current?
• Does the information answer my question?
• Is the information consistent with other sources?

3. Facts vs. Opinions
When you search for health information online, you
should try to find information that is factual and not
based on personal opinions.
Even if an opinion comes from a medical professional,
it is still just that: an opinion. Relying too much on
opinions and not the facts can lead to poor health
outcomes.
Leave the medical advice to your doctor, and focus on
finding factual information.

4. THINK!
Are some types of online sources more likely to
contain opinions, rather than facts, than other
sources?

5. THINK!
Are some types of online sources more likely to
contain opinions, rather than facts, than other
sources?
ANSWER: Personal blogs and other sources that are
not extensively reviewed by medical professionals are
among the most likely sources of opinions instead of
facts. You should take extra care to make sure you are
getting accurate information when consulting these
sources.

6. Use of Current Information
Always check for the date when an article was
published or last updated.
In general, stick to using sources that are at most two
years old. The more recent, the better.
If you cannot find a date, do not use the source. It is
never worth the risk of using outdated information.

7. Is My Question Answered?
It may seem obvious, but you should always check that
the information you found answers your research
question.
Even high quality information will not mean much if it
is not useful to you in your specific context. Try a
different source if you one find doesn’t look quite
right.
TIP: Use the CTRL+F command to do a keyword search
on a webpage to jump right to what you’re looking for.

8. Consistency with Other Sources
If you find high quality information that is supported by
science, you should be able to verify that it is accurate by
checking to see if it is consistent with other sources.
Never make a health decision based on only one website.
Because there is so much misinformation on the internet,
it is important to check multiple sources to find a
consensus.
In general, reputable health information sources will agree
with one another. If you find a website that says something
different than all other sources, do not use it.

9. Review: Information Evaluation Checklist
Keep these criteria in mind when evaluating information:
• Is the information factual or opinion-based?
▫ Factual information is more reliable than personal opinions.
• Is the information current?
▫ Stick to articles that were published or updated within the
last 2 years.
• Does the information answer my question?
▫ An article may provide accurate information, but it is only
useful if it answers your question. Try a different source if
you don’t see what you’re looking for.
• Is the information consistent with other sources?
▫ Always consult more than one source to verify that you are
getting accurate information.