The patient doesn t seem to be giving reliable information, what should you do

Health information is easy to find. But finding reliable health information takes a little effort. Some of the health information you get from newspapers, magazines, books, TV, the Internet, and social media is up to date and trustworthy. But some is not. That's why it's important to evaluate health information for yourself.

But how can you tell the good from the bad? There are two key steps:

  • Ask questions before you trust what you read or hear.
  • Discuss the information you find with your health care provider before you rely on it. You may have found good information, but your provider can tell you whether it's good for you.

How can I evaluate health information on the Internet?

Asking a few questions will help you decide if you can trust a website. You can usually find most of the answers on the site's "About Us" page. If you can't find information about who runs the website, the site may not be trustworthy, and their health information may be unreliable. Some questions to ask are:

  • Who runs the site? Can you trust them to provide balanced, accurate information? Trustworthy sites provide a way to contact the owners with questions or feedback.

    In general, you'll find good health information on websites run by:
    • Federal government agencies.
    • Medical schools.
    • Large professional or nonprofit organizations. For example, the American College of Cardiology (a professional organization) and the American Heart Association (a nonprofit) and are both reliable sources of information on heart health.

  • What's the purpose of the site? Is it to:
    • Inform the public?
    • Sell products or services?
    • Promote the opinions of a person or group?

    A trustworthy website has one goal: To give you good information.

  • Who pays for the site?

    • If the site is funded by ads, they should be clearly marked as advertisements. Watch out for ads designed to look like neutral health information.
    • If a business pays for the site, the health information may favor that business and its products.

  • Is the health information high quality? Good health information doesn't promote one treatment over another. It gives you balanced facts based on research. So, beware of dramatic writing, promises of cures, and claims that sound too good to be true. Those could be signs of a health fraud scam. To evaluate the quality of a website's information, ask:

    • How is the information selected and reviewed to make sure it's accurate?
      Check the "About Us" page to see if the site has:
      • An editorial board of health experts
      • A content review process
      • A selection policy for content
      • Information about their writers' qualifications, which may be listed at the bottom of the articles
    • Where does the information come from? The content pages should have links or references to the sources of the information.
    • Is the information up to date? Content pages should include dates when the information was written, reviewed, or updated.

  • How does the website use your personal information? Look for a privacy policy section to see how your personal information will be used. Don't share information about yourself unless you're comfortable with any risks involved.

When you find a website that seems to be trustworthy, don't stop there. Look to see if other reliable sites have similar health information.

How can I evaluate health information on social media?

A social media post may come from someone you know, but that doesn't guarantee it's good information. Many of the questions you use to evaluate a website also work for social media too. Ask where the information comes from, why it exists, and if anyone is funding it.

If you're not sure whether the information you see on social media is trustworthy, don"t share it with others.

How can I evaluate health stories in the news?

Some news stories about medical research may not include all the facts you need to know. Ask these questions:

  • Does the story say whether the research involved people or animals?
  • If it was people, how many people were in the study and who were they?
  • How long was the study?
  • What type of study was it?
  • Who paid for the research?

If you learn a few tips for understanding medical research, you'll be able to decide if a news story may apply to your health. Then you can discuss the information with your provider.

How can I evaluate health information in books?

To evaluate health information in books, ask:

  • How old is the book?
  • Is the author an expert on the subject?
  • Does the book offer different points of view or just those of the author?
  • Has the book been reviewed by other experts?
  • Does the book list the sources of the content?

After you evaluate health information, talk with your provider before using it to make decisions that may affect your health.

NIH: National Library of Medicine

Start Here

  • A Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation (Surgeon General) - PDF
  • Evaluating Internet Health Information: A Tutorial from the National Library of Medicine
    The patient doesn t seem to be giving reliable information, what should you do
    The patient doesn t seem to be giving reliable information, what should you do
    (National Library of Medicine)
  • Finding and Evaluating Online Resources
    The patient doesn t seem to be giving reliable information, what should you do
    (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
    Also in Spanish
  • Health Information on the Web: Finding Reliable Information (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

  • Health Literacy: MedlinePlus Health Topic
    The patient doesn t seem to be giving reliable information, what should you do
    (National Library of Medicine)
    Also in Spanish
  • How to Spot Health Fraud (Food and Drug Administration)
  • Understanding Health Risks: Improve Your Chances for Good Health
    The patient doesn t seem to be giving reliable information, what should you do
    (National Institutes of Health)
    Also in Spanish

Specifics

  • Diet in the News -- What to Believe? (Harvard School of Public Health)
  • Finding Cancer Information on the Internet (American Cancer Society)
  • Finding Reliable Health Information Online
    The patient doesn t seem to be giving reliable information, what should you do
    (National Human Genome Research Institute)
  • Health Misinformation Checklist (Surgeon General) - PDF
  • How to Find Cancer Resources You Can Trust
    The patient doesn t seem to be giving reliable information, what should you do
    (National Cancer Institute)
    Also in Spanish
  • Know the Science: The Facts about Health News Stories
    The patient doesn t seem to be giving reliable information, what should you do
    (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
  • Talk to Your Community About Health Misinformation (Surgeon General) - PDF

Videos and Tutorials

  • Evaluating Internet Health Information: A Tutorial from the National Library of Medicine
    The patient doesn t seem to be giving reliable information, what should you do
    The patient doesn t seem to be giving reliable information, what should you do
    (National Library of Medicine)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: World Apheresis Association holds two webinars in 2021.
  • Article: Can "Googling" correct misbelief? Cognitive and affective consequences of online search.
  • Article: SIGNAL: A web-based iterative analysis platform integrating pathway and network approaches...
  • Evaluating Health Information -- see more articles

Find an Expert

  • National Library of Medicine
    The patient doesn t seem to be giving reliable information, what should you do

Older Adults

  • Online Health Information: Is It Reliable?
    The patient doesn t seem to be giving reliable information, what should you do
    (National Institute on Aging)
    Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

  • Health Misinformation Checklist (Surgeon General) - PDF
  • Online health information - what can you trust? (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Talk to Your Community About Health Misinformation (Surgeon General) - PDF

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The patient doesn t seem to be giving reliable information, what should you do

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MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

  • Online health information - what can you trust?

  • Understanding Medical Research

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Evaluating Health Information is the National Library of Medicine

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Which of the following is the best purpose of the health history of health assessment?

The purpose of obtaining a health history is to gather subjective data from the patient and/or the patient's family so that the health care team and the patient can collaboratively create a plan that will promote health, address acute health problems, and minimize chronic health conditions.

What factors should you take into consideration for the setting during health interview assessment and history taking?

Personal status (e.g. education, occupation, etc.)..
The patient's important family / social relationships..
The patient's diet / nutrition and exercise status..
The patient's functional ability and mental health..
The environment in which the patient lives / works / learns..

In which situation would be most appropriate to perform a comprehensive health history assessment on a client?

A comprehensive or complete health assessment usually begins with obtaining a thorough health history and physical exam. This type of assessment is usually performed in acute care settings upon admission, once your patient is stable, or when a new patient presents to an outpatient clinic.

What would the nurse ensure before beginning a health assessment?

First Steps. There are many components to a comprehensive health assessment. Before beginning the assessment, nurses should try to develop a rapport with their patients, introducing themselves, explaining what they will be doing during the assessment, and why.