Fact vs Fiction on the Internet
The World Wide Web can provide a wealth of health-related information. It can also be a source of misinformation that may be harmful to your health and emotional well-being. The National MS Society has a vested interest in helping people with MS make health care decisions based on reliable information. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Oregon Chapter’s Client Services Committee created this guide. Use these questions to help you evaluate sites for accurate and current information.
WHO is behind the site?
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The home page should contain a link, such as “About Us,” inviting you to learn more about the organization.
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If a single author manages a site, the background of the individual plus credentials should be prominently displayed.
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Contact information and an invitation for feedback and questions should be present.
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Determine if there is an editorial board or professional group that reviews the information for accuracy prior to it being posted, and if this group has appropriate qualifications to review the information.
WHERE is it located?
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The URL (the website address) is a good clue as to who is responsible for a site.
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http://www.123.gov/ would be the domain name of the website, (this is an example, not a real site) everything that comes after it, (www.123.gov/abc/~index) are web pages. To determine the validity of a website, use a search engine (i.e. Google) on the domain name to find other references about the website.
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Addresses that end in .gov are sponsored by federal and state governments.
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The last part of a state agency address contains two letters that designate the state (i.e., or = Oregon & wa = Washington).
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Those that end in .edu or .ac.uk are associated with universities and colleges.
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Addresses ending in .com, .org, and .net are interchangeable and do not tell you anything about the validity of the site.
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Occasionally authors of suspicious websites will use names that look official but are sham organizations. When an unknown organization is referenced, check them out by exiting the website and conducting a separate search for the organization.
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Always be suspicious if sites have pop-ups and product names mentioned with links to commercial sites.
WHAT is the website trying to do?
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What is the point of the website? The purpose should be clear.
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Does it make broad, unsubstantiated claims?
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Are facts and figures overused to make the author appear credible? And are you able to look up the original source and confirm that the information is correct?
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Does it exist solely to provide information on a health care matter, or is it a commercial site promoting a product?
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Does the site have links to other websites that are credible and useful to your search?
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Some websites exist for the purpose of providing emotional support and the informal sharing of information. Chat rooms and sites devoted to that purpose are valuable to many people, but health information obtained from such sites needs to be checked out before you accept it as truth.
WHEN was the material written?
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How current is the information on this website?
Reputable sites are updated on a regular basis. Be wary of sites with information that is several years old. -
You should be able to determine if the website has been recently updated by going to the bottom of the home page. It should have the date it was last updated.
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Broken links are an indication that the site is not updated regularly.
HOW easy is it to navigate?
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Is there a search engine on the site to help you find what you need?
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Is information found easily by following links?
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Is it taking too much time for too little information?
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Be aware though, that government sites are notoriously difficult to navigate.
Lastly, and importantly, there should be a privacy statement available on the website, as well as disclaimers noting possible financial gain and liability language. These links are often at the bottom of the website page.
The National MS Society website is an excellent source of MS-related health information. Following is a list of additional websites that the Oregon Chapter recommends for accurate and timely information.
MS Centers Affiliated with the Oregon Chapter
OHSU MS Center www.ohsu.edu/ms
VA Centers of Excellence www.va.gov/ms
Providence MS Center
www.providence.org/oregon/programs_and_services/brain
MS Centers
Consortium of MS Centers http://www.mscenter.org/
Rocky Mt. MS Center www.mscenter.org
University of Washington Western MS Center www.uwmedicine.org/patientcare/medicalspecialties
Partners MS Center www.partnersmscenter.org
Cleveland Clinic www.clevelandclinic.org/mellen
Johns Hopkins MS Center www.hopkinsneuro.org/ms
Pediatric Consortium www.pediatricmscenter.org
Government Sites
NIH - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
(NINDS) www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/multiple_sclerosis
Medline http://medlineplus.gov
Non-Profits/Other
National MS Society (NMSS) www.nmss.org
Oregon Chapter, NMSS www.defeatms.org
MS Society of Canada www.mssociety.ca
Jimmy Heuga Center www.heuga.org
MS International Federation www.msif.org
MS Association of America (MSAA) www.msaa.com
MS Foundation www.msfacts.org
Drug Companies
Berlex (Betaseron) www.berlex.com
BiogenIdec (Avonex & Tysabri) www.biogenidec.com
Teva Neuroscience (Copaxone) www.tevaneuroscience.com
Serono (Novantrone & Rebif) www.serono.com