The Internet has a lot to offer, but not all sources of consumer health information are reliable, easy to use, and worth the effort to locate. This should be clearly indicated on the site's main page. Links are ok if that is the intended purpose of the site. Don't be fooled into believing that information provided by a computer always equals quality and convenience.
Dates can mean when the information was first written, first included on the site, or last revised.
If the website is large, this is an absolute must. This is especially important if the site asks you to fill in forms with personal health information such as your age, medical condition, drugs for which you d like information. Security and privacy policies may be clearly stated but may not be followed. For more information read about a recent study conducted by the California Healthcare Foundation . Also, read an online article on privacy titled What the Internet knows about me which was published in the August 2000 issue of Consumer Reports .