ChatGPT and similar AI bots tell you to double-check health information they provide. However, choosing the best resources to verify this information can be tricky. Here’s how to find and use reputable sources for health information online.
1. Contact a Physician
For any serious or recurring issues, contact your physician or set up a telemedicine appointment. While ChatGPT can offer reliable health information, it can’t replace a medical professional’s evaluation of your particular issue.
2. Rely on Established Medical Resources
Many medical resources available online provide reliable, reputable, evidence-based information. Even better, they present the facts in a straightforward way, making them more accessible to people from all sorts of backgrounds (not only medical professionals). These are some examples:
Mayo Clinic: The nonprofit medical practice and academic research organization is well known for providing extensive health information on many conditions, and it offers facts about treatments and preventive care as well. Use its extensive health library to double-check information about diseases, supplements, and even general lifestyle advice.
3. Be Wary of Commercial Sites
If you’re using online sources, then check the end of your resource’s URL. If it ends in .gov, .edu, or .org, then it’s likely a nonprofit or educational website. For the most part, websites with these addresses provide beneficial information to the public for free.