The internet is a vast resource of health information, but the quality and reliability of the information varies widely. This article provides hints to help you find reliable health and medical information, including information about medicines, on the web. An article on other sources of information about medicines will appear in a future issue of MedicinesTalk.

Is it Australian information?

Information about medical conditions and the principles of the wise use of medicines are much the same the world over, but information about specific medicines differs between countries. If looking for information about medical conditions and medicines in general, good quality websites around the globe will give you reliable information. However, if looking for information about specific medicines, including over-the-counter, alternative and complementary medicines, seek out Australian websites. Medicine names, including brand names, safety information, and the conditions a medicine can be used for vary from country to country. Using overseas websites may give you information that is misleading or not relevant in Australia.

Deciding whether a website is Australian can be difficult. Look for details, such as an Australian street address and telephone number, to confirm that it is an Australian site.

Who produced the information?

The name of the individual or organisation that produced the website should be clearly stated and easy to find. If the author is an individual, information about their qualifications and credentials should be given. If the author is an organisation, information about the nature of the organisation and its aims should be given. These details can usually be found in the ‘About us’ page.

Such information may give you clues about the reliability of the information, its relevance to you, and its potential biases. For example, it may enable you to decide whether the website has been produced to provide balanced information or to encourage you to buy a product or service.

As a general rule, information produced by larger, well established health and education institutions is more likely to be reliable and balanced than information produced by individuals and commercial companies. However, there are many exceptions to the rule, so you need to evaluate the information yourself.

Larger, well established institutions are often better equipped to prepare quality websites because they have access to the resources needed to prepare reliable information and expert staff to do the work. In contrast, the information prepared by individuals is often based on the author’s personal experience, which may be useful when looking for information about the likely impact of a medical condition or treatment. Information produced by commercial companies is often designed to promote a product as well as educate, so it may give only part of the story.

Look for information that discusses a range of treatment options and their
potential benefits, risks and side effects.

Has it been checked?

Websites that have been reviewed (checked) by experts who were not involved in preparing the information tend to be more reliable and balanced than those that have not. Look for mentions of an advisory committee or review panel.

Is it comprehensive?

If seeking information about the treatment of a condition, look for information that discusses a range of treatment options and their potential benefits, risks and side effects. Be aware of sites that discuss only one or two treatment options, which may be the producer’s preferred treatments or products, and ignore other options that may be equally valid.

If seeking information about a specific medicine, look for information that discusses the side effects and risks of the medicine as well as the benefits.

What is the evidence?

The evidence supporting the information in a website may be the results of clinical trials involving thousands of people, the knowledge and experience of medical specialists who belong to a professional organisation like the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the beliefs of an individual doctor, or the testimonial of a customer. Each of these types of evidence has a different level of credibility.

Sites that use customers’ testimonials, practitioners’ anecdotes and celebrities’ endorsements have little credibility and should be treated with scepticism. Similarly, sites that promise miraculous cures, talk about medical breakthroughs, or sound too good to be true should be avoided.

Could it be advertising?

In Australia, pharmaceutical companies are not allowed to promote prescription medicines to consumers via websites or provide links to sites that
promote such medicines. However, subject to certain rules, promotion of over-the-counter, alternative and complementary medicines is allowed.
Sometimes, there is a fine line between balanced information and promotion, particularly in over-the-counter, alternative and complementary medicines. Clues to the site being promotional include:

• it endorses one product only
• it includes testimonials
• it emphasises the positives but ignores or brushes over the negatives
• it has links to sites that sell products.

Is it consistent with other information?

It is usually worthwhile using more than one website when searching for information, particularly if seeking information about a medical condition and its treatments. Using more than one website will help you determine the reliability of the information. If the information is consistent across several websites, you can be reasonably sure it is reliable. Using several sites also provides a more comprehensive coverage of the topic and the range of treatment options available. Most good websites will help you find other useful sites by providing links that take you to relevant sites. Many will also give you a brief summary of the information in the linked site. However, beware of links to overseas sites about medicines.

Is it up to date?

Out-of-date information may be superseded, misleading or irrelevant, so look for the date the information was last revised. Old information is not necessarily inappropriate, but a recent date of last revision may give you confidence that someone is keeping track of the information and updating it as needed. The date when last revised often appears at the bottom of the front page of the website or at the bottom of the page containing the information.

Use well-known and recommended sites When looking for information, don’t rely solely on search engines such as Google. Use well-known sites, and sites recommended by health professionals and consumer groups. Some larger sites, such as HealthInsite and Better Health Channel, primarily provide links to specialised websites that meet their quality standards. In effect, they direct you to quality information by doing some of the checking for you. Health and medical sites HealthInsite www.healthinsite.gov.au Better Health Channel www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au MedlinePlus www.medlineplus.gov Mayo Clinic www.mayoclinic.com My Doctor Health Information www.mydr.com.au (click on health information search) Informed Health Online www.informedhealthonline.org ABC Health Matters www.abc.net.au/health Medicines sites NPS Medicines Information www.nps.org.au (click on consumers, then medicines information (CMI)) Better Health Medicines Guide www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au (click on library, then medicines guide) My Doctor Medication Search www.mydr.com.au (click on medication search)