It has been estimated that 27% of patients use the Internet to obtain health or medical information. The Internet offers opportunities for patient self-education but websites can share unsubstantiated medical information that is misleading and unreliable. Here are some things to look at when evaluating websites:
The Health On the Net Foundation (HON) promotes and guides the deployment of useful and reliable online health information, and its appropriate and efficient use. Created in 1995, HON is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, accredited to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.