Virtually anyone can publish a Web page, but that does not assure that everyone has the specialized training necessary for the responsible communication of health information. At times even reputable sources can provide Another criteria for Website evaluation involves the purpose of the page. The reader must determine what biases are evident and how these may effect the content that is being presented. As an example, most of the information available on the Internet about nutritional supplements is provided by those who sell nutritional supplements. The third criteria for evaluation concerns how old the material is.
People often assume that information provided on the Internet is the most current available.
Quality sites will date the origin of the page and also when it was last updated, so that readers can better evaluate the currency of information. The consumer of health information must most importantly attempt to evaluate the scientific validity of the health information. This may be difficult for the lay individual who has not been trained in research design or statistical methods, however general common sense can be helpful in determining if the material has logical origins. Having knowledge of how a study was conducted is crucial in determining if information and recommendations are valid. What was the sample size of the study and are the conclusions consistent with the methodology.