Ensuring that information is trustworthy

Like many other people you may look on the internet for information about your health problem. It is important to know that not all information can be trusted. You may be given advice that is dangerous or misleading. Discuss any information you find with your GP and health care team.

How do we work out what palliative care information is correct, trustworthy and reliable?

Information on the internet is not controlled or regulated. You need to use your common sense to judge the value of the information you find. A useful tool to help you is the CRAAP test.

The CRAAP test

CRAAP stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. It was developed by Meriam Library at California State University (USA) to help people decide whether the website they are viewing is reliable.

When deciding whether to use an internet site to find information look for these five things:

  • Currency

  • Relevancy

  • Authority

  • Accuracy

  • Purpose

This version of the CRAAP list was adapted from one developed by University of Wollongong, Australia.

Is it trustworthy resources

Read Our Blog Post on We need to talk … about how you Google health stuff

Visit Healthdirect Australia for health information online

Use Healthdirect Australia Question Builder tool to prepare for your doctor’s appointment

Last updated 22 May 2026