The number of books, magazines, reports, and Internet sources on health is overwhelming. No one source is the most accurate, up-to-date, or reliable. When it comes to analyzing written resources, follow these general rules:
Credibility: The information should come from a respected institution or organization. Here are just a few examples:
- Universities, such as Johns Hopkins, Harvard, or University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)
- Government agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health/National Library of Medicine, Centers for Disease Control, and the Department of Health and Human Services
- Disease-specific organizations, such as the American Heart Association or American Cancer Society
- Healthcare systems, such as The Mayo Clinic or Kaiser Permanente
Timeliness: Look at the date of publication to make sure that the information is current. In general, it's best to collect information that is no more than 5 years old.
Consistency: Check to see that the information is consistent in a variety of sources. Conflicting views may pop up, but the information should be similar.
Trustworthiness: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Use common sense when evaluating information. Just because a publication uses terms you don't understand, it doesn't mean you can't grasp the overall message. Words such as "miracle," "instant," and "guaranteed" should be warning flags.
The number of books, magazines, reports, and Internet sources on
health is overwhelming. No one source is the most accurate,
up-to-date, or reliable. When it comes to analyzing written
resources, follow these general rules: Credibility: The...
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:There are so many "authorities" these days, it's hard to know who to listen to about health information. Your doctor and your health care team are a great start. That said, it's also important for you to do your homework. We are a culture of consumers, inundated with wave upon wave of constant messaging, where every product claims to be the solution to our problems; if that were the case, there would probably be far fewer products. But you can choose who you listen to and where to look to find your facts. This is an important step in maintaining your health or getting on the road to recovery. It's not a matter of drowning out the rest of the world, but more a matter of selecting the information you let in.Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulThere are so many "authorities" these days, it's hard to know who to listen to about health information. Your doctor and your health care team are a great start. That said, it's also important for you to do your homework. We are a culture of... More
Dr. Sheri D. Pruitt answered:The number of books, magazines, reports, and Internet sources on health is overwhelming. No one source is the most accurate, up-to-date, or reliable. When it comes to analyzing written resources, follow these general rules:
Find out more about this book: Living SMART: Five Essential Skills to Change Your Health Habits Forever
