Many criteria have been put forth for what makes a website a credible reference source, and this issue has been much discussed in print and online. Thus, Capsule Health has drawn on existing consensus criteria to create an easy-to-remember reminder that people looking for online health information should see where the website stands.
- Source: Does the resource cite recognized authorities and provide their credentials?
- Transparency: Is it open and obvious whether the site’s mission is educational or commercial?
- Accessibility: Is the site available without registration and is there a way for users to contact someone with questions or concerns?
- Neutrality: Is the information available purely as a resource, or does the site benefit financially from what its users do (such as buying products or visiting advertised websites)?
- Documentation: Is the site updated when needed by recognized medical experts?
- Security: Can users access content without forfeiting personal information?
Capsule Health will do its best to stand by these criteria. Currently Capsule Health is authored by only one individual but we hope to gain more contributors. Contributor’s name and credentials will be listed on each of their topics and on a contributor page. Our absence of registration fees as well as our editorial process that uses external authors and reviewers make it clear that Capsule Health’s mission is truthful.
For research and literature review, we advise our authors to rely on only trusted sources. Proper citations (APA format only) and credits must be given to all content used from any other agency. You can list our list of recommended sources here.