Name:______Date: ______Class #: ______

Evaluating Websites for Health IV:

Using Credible and Reliable Sites for Health Information

DIRECTIONS:

1.  Explore analysis of medical sites in Part A.

2.  For Part B, visit the following health-related websites.

3.  Using the attached sheet that explains thecriteria for evaluating websites, discuss whether or not each site is credible and reliable. You must use the criteria to determine this.

  1. For each website, list at least 3 reasons why the site is credible or why it is not credible.
  2. Move on to partC and find credible and non-credible websites on selected topics.

PART A: National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health

HEALTHY WEB SURFING: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthywebsurfing.html

  1. Why is it important to consider the author or source?

______

  1. What is a “cyberskeptic” and why should you be one?

______

  1. Are health testimonials reliable?

______

  1. What leads to the “best medical decisions”?

______

ONLINE SYMPTOM CHECKERS:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4496786/

  1. Who conducted this study and what was studied?

______

  1. What percentage of symptom checkers provided a correct diagnosis first?

______

  1. What are the two main functions of online symptom checkers? (Under “Introduction”)

______

  1. What conditions did symptom checkers work best for? (“Accuracy of Triage Advice”)

______

  1. What were the conclusions of this study?

______

PART B: Websites to visit:

(1) http://www.cdc.gov/std/default.htm

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

(2) http://www.nuvaring.com/Consumer/

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

(3) http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases-stds/basics/definition/CON-20034128?p=1

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

(4) http://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/news/20150429/experimental-aids-vaccine-targets-hidden-virus

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

(5) http://www.focusonthefamily.com/

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

(6) http://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/types-of-families/Pages/default.aspx

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

(7) http://family.lovetoknow.com/about-family-values/types-family-structures

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

(8) http://www.healthline.com/symptom-checker

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

(9) http://bedsider.org/methods

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

(10) http://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

PART C:

à Go to Google.com

à Search for

“birth control” OR “sexually transmitted diseases” OR “family” OR

“diagnosis” OR any specific disease or condition (skin cancer, heart disease, etc.)

1. What topic did you search for?

2. List 1 credible website you found and list 3 reasons why you believe this site is credible and reliable.

Website:
Reason 1:
Reason 2:
Reason 3:

3. List 1 website that is questionable or is not credible and list 3 reasons why you do not believe this is a reliable site.

Website:
Reason 1:
Reason 2:
Reason 3:

Lenape Media Center Research Guide

C.R.A.P. Test for Evaluating Websites

Ask yourself the following questions about each website you're considering:

Currency

·  How recent is the information?

·  Can you locate a date when the page(s) were written/created/updated?

·  Does the website appear to update automatically (this could mean no one is actually looking at it)?

·  Based in your topic, is it current enough?

Reliability

·  What kind of information is included in the website?

·  Based on your other research, is it accurate? ...complete?

·  Is the content primarily fact, or opinion?

·  Is the information balanced, or biased?

·  Does the author provide references for quotations and data?

·  If there are links, do they work?

Authority

·  Can you determine who the author/creator is?

·  Is there a way to contact them?

·  What are their credentials (education, affiliation, experience, etc.)?

·  Is there evidence they're experts on the subject?

·  Who is the publisher or sponsor of the site?

·  Is this publisher/sponsor reputable?

Purpose / Point of View

·  What's the intent of the website (to persuade, to sell you something, etc.)?

·  What is the domain (.edu, .org, .com, etc.)? How might that influence the purpose/point of view?

·  Are there ads on the website? How do they relate to the topic being covered (e.g., an ad for ammuntion next to an article about firearms legislation)?

·  Is the author presenting fact, or opinion?

·  Who might benefit from a reader believing this website?

·  Based on the writing style, who is the intended audience?

Adapted from and with thanks to: Molly Beestrum, Dominican University Librarian; and Vanderbilt University Library.