Using the internet and the media to get health information

Tips and information

• The media (newspapers, radio, TV) and the internet can be good sources of information when people have access to them
• People can ask themselves questions about the health information they find on the internet or in the media. For example, Who said it? When did they say it? How do they know?
• People can think about trusting health information if the source of the information is a national health service or the government
• It should be easy to find out who wrote the health information, and if the person is a (well-known) expert on the subject
• Health information should have a list of sources, and the information should be up to date
• Sources should offer the same information, such as when information from a national health service is the same as other sources 
• The sponsor of the information – such as the sponsor of a TV show – should have experience in the area of health
• The information should not try to sell anything