If you search for websites, you can find a whole range of options, but how can you tell which ones are really going to be useful and are giving you honest information? Things you might look for include:
- Who has produced the information? Is it clear who writes the information and if there are processes in place for approving the information?
- Is there a date? It is useful to know when the information was produced or reviewed.
- Is the information reliable? If you are not sure if it is from a reliable source, think about how it is written – does it contradict itself? Is it giving you all of the options? Is it biased towards one viewpoint or another?
- What is the aim? Websites of personal experiences, for example, can be useful in finding out what happened to other people - but be aware that this is only one person's experience and everybody is different. Be very wary of websites that are trying to sell you something - especially if it claims to be some kind of cure.
- If the information is relevant for you? Treatments for cancer, for example, can be different in different countries, so if you are looking at a site from another country, the information it gives about treatment might only be true there.
- Can you check the information? Looking at different websites can help you get a wider view point. You can also ask your nurse or doctor or contact us to find out more.
