Health-related information is the most frequent type of information searched for on the Internet. More than 50% of the men and 75% of the women who use the Internet access health-related sites. Since its very easy to set up a Web page to promote ones ideas or ones ability to cure, and since there are no standards that must be adhered to when publishing on the Net, such information should be taken with a certain degree of skepticism.

Here are some questions to use when evaluating a web site to help you assess the quality of information given:

What is the site's overall quality?

Sites that are well laid out, easy to navigate, do not contain misspellings and do not have intrusive advertising or promotions are more likely to be reputable sources of information.

Anyone can add hypertext links to high-quality sites without the sites permission. The presence of credible links does not guarantee the site itself is credible.

Does the site have a privacy policy clearly stated (though that does not mean it will follow the policy) and allow for encrypted transactions or e-mail? Reliable sites are more likely to use secure data transmission.

Does the site charge an access fee? Many reputable sites offer excellent health information free. Why pay an unnecessary fee for information? If a site does charge a fee, it should offer value for the money and should not be a scam.

When was information updated?

Look for a date of "last update" of information, often found at the bottom of the page. The continuous updating of medical research frequently makes information on Web sites out of date.

Who sponsors the site?

A site sponsored by a national organization recognized in the medical field, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, is more likely to present a balanced view than a commercial site, which may use it to highlight or sell its own products or services.

Sites with Web addresses (URLs) ending with .org, .gov and .edu (nonprofit organization, government, educational institution) should be readily identifiable from .com sites (commercial).

People with unusual diseases or those with alternative health beliefs frequently build sites to promote products or beliefs without the benefit of rigorous scientific support. Patients should be cautious in relying on such sites for therapies that are not scientifically proven.

Who is the messenger?

A reliable site includes the author of the information or the names of the sites editorial board, with a way to ask questions or offer comments. The authors academic credentials also can help determine if he or she is an authority. Unfortunately, there is no "Web police," and authors may exaggerate or make up credentials. A real postal address and telephone number add credibility.

What is the message?

Sites that appear to provide a balanced discussion of an issue, do not ask for personal information and do not have anything to sell are more likely to have accurate health information.

A general rule is to believe only information that can be found (confirmed) on multiple sites or from multiple sources.

Possessing some knowledge of a subject before going onto the Web helps. Sites that offer information that conflict with other reliable sources certainly make one want to seek clarification. Call your pediatrician with any questions or to evaluate any information you are not sure about.

Many, but not all, drug company sites provide reliable information. They sometimes do provide all the therapeutic options available, but promote their own pharmaceuticals.

Sites that appear to be selling something probably are. These often will have biased, incomplete or inaccurate information meant to convince visitors to spend money or to get visitors e-mail addresses and other personal information for subsequent unsolicited mailings, or to sell to other companies.

Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.