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What is Trust It or Trash It?

This is a tool to help you think critically about the quality of health information (including websites, handouts, booklets, etc.). Click on Who said it? When did they say it? and How did they know? to guide you through the process.

Disclaimer

The Quality Assessment Toolbox website is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to serve as medical advice. Genetic Alliance disclaims responsibility for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a result of any actual or alleged libelous statements, infringement of intellectual property or other proprietary or privacy rights, or from use or operation of any ideas, instructions, procedures, products, or methods contained in the material herein.

Who Said It?

Who wrote it?
  • Think about TRUSTING IT if: The author’s name is easy to find.
  • Think about TRUSTING IT if: The authors have experience with the condition and are respected in the community and by their colleagues.
  • Think about TRASHING IT if: You don’t know who wrote it, or you can’t find the author’s name.
  • Think about TRASHING IT if: You can’t find information about the author’s background or experience, or you can tell they don’t have any experience.
Who provided the facts? Where did the facts come from?
  • Think about TRUSTING IT if: You can tell where the information comes from - the sources are listed.
  • Think about TRASHING IT if: You can’t tell where the information comes from – the sources aren’t listed.
Who paid for it?
  • Think about TRUSTING IT if: The sponsor has a lot of experience with the condition and the information doesn’t try to sell a product or point of view.
  • Think about TRASHING IT if:The sources listed for the information aren’t clearly related to the content or appear to be selling something.
  • Think about TRASHING IT if: Information about the funding or sponsoring group isn’t provided.

When Did They Say It?

When was it written or updated?
  • Think about TRUSTING IT if: The information is current.
  • Think about TRASHING IT if: The information seems out of date based on other information you’ve read about or know.
  • Think about TRASHING IT if: A date for the information isn’t given.

How Did They Know?

How do you know this information pertains to you?
  • Think about TRUSTING IT if: The medical information is based on research of many people.
  • Think about TRASHING IT if: The information is based only on someone’s opinion or individual experience.
Does the information seem reasonable based on what you’ve read or know?
  • Think about TRUSTING IT if: The information matches what you’ve found in multiple other sources.
  • Think about TRUSTING IT if: If there are no other sources with the same information, it could be new, cutting edge research. (See the second “Trash it” statement below).
  • Think about TRASHING IT if: The information presented is clearly wrong given the current state of the science and the opinions of many experts.
  • Think about TRASHING IT if: There are no other sources with the same information and it seems too good to be true, it may be. (See the second “Trust it” statement above).