Navigating Health Advice Online

Compiled by the Consumer Reports WebWatch Staff

Ringing in the new year with a vow to improve your health, whether it's to lose weight or quit smoking, is as common as singing "Auld Lang Syne." If you're turning to the Web for health advice in 2004, make another resolution to follow these tips:

• Reputation goes far. Begin by consulting Web sites owned by organizations you already trust. The National Institutes of Health site, for example, is likely to be more reliable than an online health newsletter published by someone you don't know.
  
  
• Know the source. Just as you wouldn't go to a pediatrician for a heart ailment, you shouldn't heed the medical advice of a so-called expert online if you don't know his or her credentials. All authors and contributors of health information should disclose their name, affiliations, credentials and financial interests, wherever possible. Likewise, the sources of the author's content should also be provided.
  
  
• Check the date. Outdated or undated health information can be unreliable or even harmful. Consumer Reports WebWatch encourages consumers to check for dates on all online information -- health-related or otherwise.
  
  
• Get a second opinion. Again, do as you would in the offline world. Check information against another reputable site or with an offline source, such as your doctor.
  
  
• No product pushing. If a health site is encouraging you to buy or use a particular product, be suspicious. Sites should clearly disclose all financial relationships.
  
  
• Avoid online diagnosing. An online doctor should not diagnose you or prescribe medication without first administering a physical exam.
  
  
• Protect your privacy. Don't share sensitive information online, such as your medical history, without first reading a site's privacy policy and understanding how this data might be used.