Dear Reader,

The Internet is an amazing medium because it allows tens of millions of individuals, organizations, governments, and companies to produce and access information on just about anything. The Internet is also troubling because it allows tens of millions of individuals, organizations, governments, and companies to produce and access information on just about anything. Lots of factual, well-researched info is available on-line. There's also a load of e-crap. You're very wise to pick and choose your sites carefully.

So, whose health home page can you trust? It may be impossible to answer this question with absolute certainty, but here's a smarter-surfing checklist that might help you decide what information to take in and pass along:

•  The producer of the web site is clearly identified. Are the author(s), sponsoring organization or agency, posting company, or any other creator(s) easy to find and clearly displayed? Is there a way to contact them to make comments or get additional information? "No" to these questions might cause one to think twice about using this site at all.

•  The credentials of the creator(s) are listed. If the information on the site is coming from an organization or company, what is its connection to it? For example, it makes pretty good sense for the American Cancer Society to host a page of cancer prevention information. On the other hand, if a tobacco company did the same, you might be wiser to get the goods from the former. If individuals are responsible for the material presented, what are their backgrounds and for whom do they work? If you can find this data, make your best judgment about whether or not they're credible providers of the information that you're reading.

•  Sources of information are cited.
  When you read something like, "Most Californians eat breakfast," or "sleeping with one sock on has been proven to reduce hair loss," are these declarations attached to sound research? "According to a 1998 study conducted by the California State Census Board published in the journal, Eat U.S., 81 percent of California residents eat breakfast," is a good example of complete source citing. This way, you can go right to the source to confirm what's been presented. (Both of these quotes are made up, by the way).

•  Other sources of information are provided.
  There are usually multiple sources that can talk about one topic. Go Ask Alice!, to name one health info provider, is not the only source of help for alcohol and other drug concerns. That's why you'll frequently find other institutions, hotlines, books, and experts listed along with Alice's take on these topics.

•  Posting dates are listed, and updated information is provided.
  There's an enormous amount of health information that's generated from all corners of the globe every day. Can you tell when the information you're perusing was published, and whether or not it has been, or will be, updated? This is no easy process for a web site producer, but an explanation of how a producer goes about this task should be available.

•  Advertisers are not influencing content.
  This may be your toughest determination of all. Compare the subjects and suggestions you're reading with the types of products and services that may be advertised within, or along side, content, or somewhere else on the site. Let's say that you're skimming an article about new technological advances in the development of hearing aides. Next to this text fades in an ad promoting Hawaiian beach vacations. Problem? If the other checklist items check out, it doesn't appear that this article is being affected one way or the other by this ad. Now, if you're excited by a different piece on new technological advances in the development of do-it-yourself penis-enlarging equipment, and up pops an ad for, "The Penis Pulley: One Inch a Day Brings the Girls Out to Play," you might deduct that the "news" article at hand is there to push your purchase of a Pulley. You can trust content on sites that accept advertising; just make sure to take your brain and a magnifying glass along for the read.

The Web's mind-boggling quantity of information, along with how easy it is to those connected to access it, is quickly making the Net a one-stop shopping center for everything you always wanted to know. Let's remember that it's not the only source — and in many instances shouldn't be the source — of health advice and care. There are still real, live health care providers, telephone hotlines, and libraries (places that have actual books, journals, and professionals that can help you find exactly what you're looking for... Information).

More health information is better. And as you've reminded us, it also means looking more carefully to determine if what we're being told is really the "best medicine."

Alice