Thousands of Americans look for health information online everyday. But how do we know if the information we're getting is accurate? One way is to follow the advice of the Health on the Net Foundation (HON). Since 1996 they have offered certification to health websites that meet certain standards of honesty, disclosure, privacy and accuracy, known as the HONcode.
As consumers of health information, it is important to know how to access a reliable source, and how to tell a good source from one that is questionable. HON offers advice on how to do this:
* Use more than one website to check information. It's like getting a second opinion.
* Ask your health care provider to refer you to a good website.
* Check the source of the information. Who is the author?
* Check their privacy policy.
* Are they HON certified? Is it valid?
* Be wary of extreme claims and "miraculous" cures.
* Don't substitute online advice for actual medical care.
* Be careful ordering from online pharmacies: there may be legal restrictions, and some
have been involved in scams in the past.
For more details about health information on the web, the 8 principles of the HONcode, and the HON Foundation, log on to www.hon.ch
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