Nurseweek/Healthweek|Information on the Web may be inaccurate

Information on the Web can be inaccurate

Posted 6-15-98

Health information on the Internet is often incorrect or outdated, according to a study published recently in the journal Pediatrics. The study, conducted by researchers in Columbus, Ohio, found that 48 of 60 mainstream Web sites sampled for information on treating diarrhea in children gave inaccurate or obsolete information.

Information on the Internet "isn’t reviewed as if it is going into a scientific journal," said Roger Spott, DDS, a Maryland dental surgeon who teaches healthcare professionals how to use the Internet. While health professionals can always look back to journals for accurate information, the public has a problem knowing what it can trust on the Web, he said.

Spott recommends four tests for judging Web site reliability:

*Be sure the source of the information is clearly stated.

* Look for a date to see if the information is outdated.

* Look for a bibliography and links to similar sites.

* Get a consensus. Look in several different places to see if you get the same answer.

The Health on the Net Foundation (HON), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, has developed a code of conduct for medical and health Web sites. Any Web site that displays the HONcode logo must ensure that its information is timely and accurate, allow only trained professionals to give medical advice, and disclose the source of its funding.

Related Sites
The Health on the Net Foundation