NURS 431 Child Health Nursing: Finding and Identifying Research

A quick glance at the website address can give you some clues about the website and its publisher.

For example: CDC's Information About Young Children (Ages 4-11) page

Host site:

• CDC = Centers for Disease Control

URL extension:

• .gov = US governmental body
• .edu = educational institution
• .org = non-profit organization
• .net = network and computer topics

Assessing the Quality of Health Information on the Internet

The CRAAP Test [pdf] (Californiat State University Chico)

• Currency - recent, regulary updated
• Relevance - on topic, intended audience
• Authority - author and credentials identified
• Accuracy - verifiable information, bias
• Purpose - goal of the website/publisher

Evaluating Health Websites (National Networks of Libraries of Medicine, NLM)

• Accuracy: Is the information based on sound medical research? Can the information on the web page be verified by another source?
• Authority: Who published the page? What are the person's credentials? What do you know about them?
• Bias/Objectivity: Is the information showing just one point of view?
• Currency/Timeliness: When was the page last updated?
• Coverage: Is the information complete?

Website Evaluation Form (Health On the Net Foundation)

• provides a means for web publishers to show intent to provide access to quality health information
• 'certification' by this non-governmental organization is indicated by the HON Code icon
• websites displaying the HON Code agree to follow the HON Principles 

Try out your skills on these websites

• Australian Vaccination Network
• Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition
• Calling the Shots

• MedlinePlus
  NIH website for patients and their families and friends produced by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). Provides reliable, current information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in simple language selected according to MedlinePlus Quality Guidelines.
  Ex. Infant and Newborn Care https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infantandnewborncare.html
• Top 100 Health Websites
  Recommended by the Consumer and Patient Health Information Section of the Medical Library Association (MLA).
  Ex. Parenting & Kids http://caphis.mlanet.org/consumer/index.html

Check the About Us page on websites to find out more about who publishes the website, their purpose, funding, etc.