Due to the breadth of health sources available, it's important to be able to efficiently appraise the credibility of information sources. While there are many models that can be used to appraise websites and online information, generally they ask similar questions related to authority, purpose, references, and currency. This is the Four Ws Model:
Who created this information?
Is it created by an Institution, Professional Association or Organization, For-Profit Company, Government?
What are the qualifications of the content creators?
Check for an "about us" or "bio" section.
What is the purpose of this information?
Who is the intended audience?
For websites, what is the site set up for?
How is the content paid for?
Where does the information in this source come from?
Are there citations for information and research presented as fact?
Are methods provided for data or research materials presented?
When was the information last updated?
Does the content or website itself show when it was last updated?
How current is the information or research cited?