Safe Searching

Safe Searching Tips for Health Information on the Internet
Follow these tips to find quality, trustworthy health information on the Internet:

• Visit sites set up by reputable, established medical institutions or healthcare organizations or associations. These sites have addresses that end in: .edu .org .net .gov
• Make sure the information is current. Dates matter in medicine. The website should clearly post the date the information was last reviewed or updated. With medical information, outdated information may be harmful.
• Understand testimonials do not equal sound medical science. Avoid personal websites or use them for anecdotal information, rather than for decision-making.
• Protect your privacy by looking for and reading a website's privacy policy. Think twice about a website that requires you to disclose personnally identifiable information in order to use it.
• Question .com sites. Avoid websites that are selling dubious products. For example, "the miracle cure for diabetes - you'll never have to take insulin again"! Also, avoid those sites that discredit standard medical practice.
• Share the health information you find on the Internet with your personal physician or healthcare provider.
• Stuck? Call the friendly staff at the Planetree Health Resource Center 541-296-8444 or click on our Health Links.