The Short Answer: Check the Source, Then Turn Each Claim Into a Question
To prepare questions from online research, write down what you read and where you found it. Check the source with a few basic questions, then turn each claim into a question for your provider. MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, names two key steps: ask questions before you trust what you read, and discuss what you find with your health care provider before you rely on it.
By PiedmontPrimaryCare.com Wellness Team. Updated September 24, 2026.
If you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number. Do not wait for an appointment, and do not stop to research online first.
Terms to Know
- Provider: the doctor, nurse practitioner, or other clinician who cares for you. MedlinePlus uses the phrase “health care provider.”
- Reliable source: a source that gives balanced, accurate information based on research. MedlinePlus says you will generally find good health information on sites run by federal government agencies, medical schools, and large professional or nonprofit organizations.
- “About Us” page: the page where a website explains who runs it. MedlinePlus says you can usually find most of the answers about a site there.
- Editorial board: a group of health experts. MedlinePlus lists an editorial board of health experts as one thing to look for on a site's “About Us” page.
- Content review process: a site's method for checking that its information is accurate. MedlinePlus lists this as another thing to look for.
- Side effect: an unwanted effect of a medicine or treatment.
- Interaction: when one medicine affects how another medicine works. AHRQ suggests asking whether a new medicine will interact with medicines you already take.
- Alternatives: other options you could discuss with your provider.
- Complications: problems that can come up during or after a test, treatment, or procedure.
What the Two Main Sources Say
MedlinePlus: How to Evaluate What You Read
MedlinePlus is a health information service of the National Library of Medicine. Its page “Evaluating Health Information” (last updated February 26, 2024) says health information is easy to find, but finding reliable information takes some effort. Some of what you read is up to date and trustworthy, and some is not.
For websites, it suggests asking these questions:
- Who runs the site? Trustworthy sites give you a way to contact the owners with questions or feedback. If you cannot find out who runs a site, it may not be trustworthy.
- What is the purpose of the site? Is it to inform the public, sell products or services, or promote the opinions of a person or group?
- Who pays for the site? Ads should be clearly marked as ads. If a business pays for the site, the health information may favor that business and its products.
- Is the information high quality? Good health information gives balanced, research-based facts. Dramatic writing, promises of cures, and claims that sound too good to be true can be signs of a health fraud scam.
- How is the information selected and reviewed? Look for an editorial board, a content review process, a selection policy, and information about the writers' qualifications.
- Where does it come from, and is it current? Content pages should link to their sources and show when the information was written, reviewed, or updated.
- How does the site use your personal information? Look for a privacy policy, and share personal details only if you are comfortable with the risks.
MedlinePlus also says that when you find a site that seems trustworthy, you should not stop there. Check whether other reliable sites have similar information.
AHRQ: Ten Questions to Ask Your Care Team
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) runs a public education effort called Questions Are the Answer. It says patients and families play a vital role on their own healthcare teams, and that answers to simple questions can help you take better care of yourself. AHRQ's page (last reviewed November 2020) offers ten questions as a starting point. They appear in the field guide below.
Comparison: Where You Read It Changes Which Questions to Ask
MedlinePlus gives slightly different questions for each kind of source. Use the list that matches where you found the claim.
- A website. Ask who runs it, what its purpose is, who pays for it, how its information is reviewed, where the information comes from, and how recent it is.
- A social media post. A post may come from someone you know, but that does not guarantee it is good information. Ask where the information comes from, why it exists, and whether anyone is funding it. If you are not sure it is trustworthy, MedlinePlus says not to share it.
- A news story about research. Ask whether the study involved people or animals. If people, ask how many took part and who they were. Also ask how long the study lasted, what type of study it was, and who paid for it.
- A book. Ask how old the book is and whether the author is an expert on the subject. Ask whether it offers different points of view or only the author's, whether other experts have reviewed it, and whether it lists its sources.
Comparison: “Is This Reliable?” Versus “Is This Right for Me?”
These are two different questions, and each needs a different helper.
- “Is this source reliable?” You can start answering this yourself with the checks above. MedlinePlus says to ask questions before you trust what you read.
- “Does this apply to me?” This is where your provider comes in. MedlinePlus says you may have found good information, but your provider can tell you whether itis right for you.
A good online source can still describe something that does not fit your situation. A quick check on a source does not replace that conversation.
Step-by-Step Field Guide
Each step is marked so you can tell where it comes from. “Our suggestion” means it is our practical idea and not a claim made by MedlinePlus or AHRQ.
- Save what you found. Write down the site name, the page title, the link, and the date you read it. (Our suggestion.) This makes the later steps much easier.
- Run the source check. Open the site's “About Us” page and use the website questions above. If you cannot tell who runs the site or who pays for it, treat what you read with extra caution. (From MedlinePlus.)
- Write each claim in one plain sentence. For example: “This page says [claim].” Keep your own opinion out of it for now. (Our suggestion.) Stating the claim plainly helps you and your provider talk about the same thing.
- Look for a second reliable source. MedlinePlus says to check whether other reliable sites have similar health information. It also says you will generally find good health information on sites run by federal agencies, medical schools, and large professional or nonprofit organizations. (From MedlinePlus.)
- Turn each claim into a question. (Our wording, based on MedlinePlus's advice to discuss what you find with your provider.) Try these:
- “I read [claim] on [source]. Is that a reliable source for this?”
- “Does this apply to me, given my health history?”
- “Is there a better place for me to read about this?”
- Put your top question first. Choose the question that matters most to you and write it at the top of your list so it doesn't get lost if the visit runs short. (Our suggestion.)
- Add AHRQ's ten questions where they fit. The questions are from AHRQ. We suggest deciding which ones fit your situation. If a test, medicine, treatment, or procedure came up in your research, consider these:
- What is the test for?
- When will I get the results?
- How do you spell the name of that drug?
- Are there any side effects?
- Will this medicine interact with medicines that I'm already taking?
- Why do I need this treatment?
- Are there any alternatives?
- What are the possible complications?
- Which hospital is best for my needs?
- How many times have you done this procedure?
- Bring your notes and write down the answers. Write the answers next to your questions so you have them afterward. Before you go, you may also want to list the medicines you take. That makes question 5 easier to ask. (Our suggestion.)
One-Page Worksheet to Bring With You
Copy this into a notes app or onto paper. Fill in one block for each thing you researched.
- What I read: ______________________
- Where I read it (site, post, article, or book) and the date: ______________________
- Who runs the source and who pays for it: ______________________
- Did a second reliable source say something similar? Yes / No / Not sure
- My question for my provider: ______________________
- What my provider said: ______________________
- What I still want to ask or look up: ______________________
What Is Not Known From These Sources
Neither MedlinePlus nor AHRQ says how many questions to bring or how to order them. Those choices in the steps above are our suggestions. Neither source can tell you whether a specific claim you found is true or right for you. MedlinePlus says your provider can tell you whether the information is good for you.
Both pages have review dates. MedlinePlus lists February 26, 2024, and AHRQ lists November 2020. Check the original pages for newer versions before you rely on them.
Apply the Same Test to This Site
MedlinePlus says to check who runs a website and who pays for it, so here are those answers. PiedmontPrimaryCare.com is an independent wellness information website written by a team of wellness writers. Our About page explains what we do and do not do. Our How We Work page explains how we choose topics, how we research them, and how the site earns money. Some links elsewhere on this site are affiliate links, and this article contains none.
This site is not a medical practice and is not connected to any medical practice that uses or has used the name “Piedmont Primary Care.” A healthcare provider previously used the domain and has no association with this website.
Sources
- National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus: Evaluating Health Information
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: The 10 Questions You Should Know
Educational Disclaimer
This article is general educational information. It is not medical advice, and it does not diagnose, treat, or recommend any test, medicine, or treatment. It cannot replace a conversation with your own doctor or other health care provider, who knows your health history. Do not start, stop, or change any medicine because of something you read online. Talk with your provider first.