Health Tools

Did you google a topic or did another website ask you to click a link?

Good:

• Information that was searched through a government health website (such as BC Cancer Agency www.bccancer.bc.ca, Healthlink BC www.healthlinkbc.ca, BC Renal Agency www.bcrenalagency.ca)

This information is written, reviewed and regularly updated by health experts and can be trusted.

Be careful of:

• Websites that appear as advertisements in google
• Websites that seem to be promoting a service or a product
• Websites that promise a “see results fast” approach
• Websites that ask you to provide your personal information and credit card information

While not all these websites are untrustworthy, you should always evaluate them more before sharing your personal information

This information can usually be found in the “about us” section of the website.

Good:

• Websites written by authors and organizations you recognize.
• Websites ending in: “.gov”, “.edu” or “.org”

While sites ending with these are generally credible, always evaluate them for authenticity. Authors who are professors, medical experts or scholars in the field are credible and trustworthy resources of information.

Be careful of:

• Websites ending with: “.com”,” .net” or “.biz”
• Authors who may be drawing from personal experiences without giving information about the resources they used to come up with the information

These websites may be promoting a business or providing information that is not based on research. Less reliable authors may not be clear on the subject matter, not be aware of the benefits/risks of a suggested tip and may provide you wrong guidance that can jeopardize your health.

Good:

• Websites that provide a source, bibliography or list of references, links to other .gov, .edu. or .org websites for the information they present.

Be careful of:

• Websites that do not provide references, may be promoting a product or service, or have only positive customer reviews.

Try to look for a date on the website article. Publications, such as books and articles will usually state the date the information was published.

Good:

• Sources that have been written in the last 5 years, or are updated annually to reflect new changes in the field.

Be careful of:

• Sources that have not been updated in a while or were written a while ago.

Information that is not up to date may no longer be accurate as there could be risks associated with that advice or there may be new information about new medications/diets/lifestyle changes.

Good:

• A website that is easy for you to use, keeps your information safe and secure and provides evidence-based recommendations.

Be careful of:

• Websites that use language or techniques that are hard for you to understand because this may not be appropriate for you.

A website that is not easy to navigate, is not easy to understand and is not easy for you to use, will not be useful for you in your health journey.