These days, it’s just as easy for a parent to log on to the Internet to research symptoms of, say, a possible illness for themselves or their children, as it is for them to call their doctor and wait for an appointment.

But easy doesn’t always mean better. First and foremost, while the Internet might be a great starting point or a click away from learning more about a recent diagnosis, it is essential to address any and all health concerns with your doctor.

Information overload
I’m the first one on the research-it-yourself bandwagon, but I have learned to be a bit more savvy when it comes to determining the credibility of the websites from which I gather information.

Take a recent medical diagnosis of mine, for example. After a visit with my obstetrician, I sat down at my computer to learn all I could about the condition, how to treat it, alternative options, and how I could prevent recurrent episodes.

And while I was able to find more references than I would ever be able to look at, I was more than annoyed to learn that a fair share of the sites I came across were nothing more than cleverly disguised venues for the sale of various homeopathic remedies.

This wasn’t accuracy I was reading. It was a sales pitch!

It took quite a while, but I was eventually able to sift through the excess Internet garbage to find accurate information on credible websites.

So how do you figure out what is “real” and what is not with the information overload the Internet provides?

Credibility and accuracy are essential
Any newspaper, magazine, or website worthy of being referred to as “credible” must adhere to some basic journalistic principals. Granted, it might be easier for print media to earn and establish credibility, as they are regulated for accuracy, but it is not impossible to do so online.

Take babygooroo for example. Why have you chosen to come here for information? And why can you trust that the information you are reading is responsibly reported, accurate, and credible?

For starters, Editor Amy Spangler is well known and respected in her field as a lactation consultant, educator, and nurse. As a published author, she has added credibility on the subjects of breastfeeding and related topics. Just read her writer’s biography on baby gooroo and you’ll walk away with a sense of confidence that Amy, and therefore her website, are both credible sources of information.

By extension, those of us who write for baby gooroo also fall under the umbrella of Amy’s credibility. But to ensure that we maintain, and not tarnish, that respected reputation, we use only respected sources of information as source materials for our articles.

After all, which would you trust more when it comes to an article about breastfeeding? An article which cites the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics? Or a web site which, although you found it with the search term “breastfeeding,” is touting free samples of formula?

Tips for finding online resources
Here are a few tips from Georgetown University to help you find what you are looking for online:

• Make sure you evaluate Internet resources. Keep in mind that almost anyone can publish anything they care to on the Internet. While the responsibility of honest representation and determining accuracy falls on newspaper publishers, that same responsibility shifts to the reader when it comes to Internet resources.
• Are the author’s name, credentials, and other relevant information available? Is the author qualified to write on the subject?
• Is the information presented fact, opinion, or propaganda? Is the author’s view objective and impartial?
• Are sources of factual information clearly listed for verification of information presented? Can you independently verify the information through other sources?
• Is the information valid, well researched, and supported by evidence, or is it lacking in this area?
• How current is the information provided? Is there an indication of when the site was last updated?
• Are the links provided related to the topic and useful to the site? Are they current or have they become dead ends?

The bottom line when it comes to online reading and researching is that you need to be careful. But with these tips, and a more watchful eye, you’ll be able to click past the bias and misinformation out there and instead click on the accurate and respected sites you are looking for.