Finding Credible Sources of Information
How to Find Accurate Information
How do I know which COVID-19 information sources are accurate?
It can be hard to know which sources of information you can trust.
Before learning more about COVID-19 on the internet, check that the
information comes from a credible source (e.g., federal or state
agency, academic institution) and is updated on a regular basis. The
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) and
Purdue University offers information on Finding and Evaluating Resources1 and
Evaluating Digital Resources2 to
ensure the content you find is credible.
What about peer-reviewed articles?
Accurate information about COVID-19 may be found in peer-reviewed articles published in credible scholarly journals. Before formal publication in a scholarly journal, scientific and medical articles go through “peer review” for certification. To be certified by peer review, a study or article will first need to be evaluated by several subject matter experts. This helps find possible weaknesses in the study's assumptions, methods, and conclusions in an unbiased, independent, and critical way before it is formally published. Only articles that meet good scientific standards (e.g., acknowledge and build upon other work in the field, rely on logical reasoning and well-designed studies, back up claims with evidence3) are then accepted for formal publication.
Peer reviewed articles should not be confused with “preprints.” Because peer review and certification by a journal can take a long time, authors can make their manuscripts available as preprints for scientists to see, discuss, and comment on their findings. Therefore, preprints are not credible sources as they have not been finalized by authors, might contain errors, and report information that has not yet been accepted or endorsed in any way by the scientific or medical community.
The Art of reading a journal article: Methodically and
effectively4 is a helpful resource for those looking
for more in-depth support during the research process. See below for
some examples of credible scholarly journals and resources that
publish peer-reviewed articles.
The sample size (the number of patients or other experimental units) is very important for getting statistically significant results and running a study successfully for quantitative research. Samples should not be too big or too small since both have limitations that can compromise the conclusions drawn from the studies. When reading an article, the reader should be on the alert to find out that the study they are reading was subjected to sample size calculation. In the absence of this calculation, the study's findings should be interpreted with caution since the researcher(s) may not have designed the study to consider the errors or limits of the sample size used.
Agencies and Organizations
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) comprises medical and public health experts who develop recommendations on the use of vaccines in the civilian population of the United States. The recommendations stand as public health guidance for safe use of vaccines and related biological products.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is the leading professional membership organization for obstetrician-gynecologists. ACOG creates practice guidelines for providers and educational materials for patients. ACOG also offers practice management and career support, helps further programs and efforts aimed at improving women’s health, and advocates on behalf of members and patients.
American Medical Association (AMA) promotes the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.
American Public Health Association (APHA) champions the health of all people and all communities. They strengthen the public health profession and speak out for public health issues and policies backed by science. APHA is the only organization that combines a nearly 150-year perspective, a broad-based member community, and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the public's health.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the nation’s health protection agency and a major operating component of the Department of Health and Human Services. CDC works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety, and security threats—both foreign and in the U.S. Their critical science and health information protects the nation against dangerous health threats when these arise.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a federal agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. Among many duties, FDA is in charge of protecting the public’s health by making sure human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices are safe, effective, and secure.
National Library of Medicine has a mission to advance the progress of medicine and improve the public health by providing all U.S. health professionals with equal access to biomedical information and improving the public's access to information to enable them to make informed decisions about their health.
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) is a society of physicians and scientists who are devoted to advance pregnancy and perinatal outcomes.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the Nation’s medical research agency and is part of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services.
World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, responsible for international public health. WHO leads and supports global efforts to give everyone, everywhere, an equal chance to live a healthy life.
The American Journal of Epidemiology is the oldest and one of the top epidemiologic journals that is devoted to the publication of empirical research findings, opinion pieces, and methodological developments in the field of epidemiologic research. Journals are peer-reviewed and aimed at both fellow epidemiologists and those who use epidemiologic data, including public health workers and clinicians.
The American Journal of Public Health publishes in-depth and current public health information that health organizations depend on for authoritative editorials, thought-provoking commentary, and timely health policy analysis.
The British Medical Journal (BMJ) is one of the world’s oldest general medical journals and was the first major medical journal to launch a website. BMJ’s content is available in 14 different languages.
The Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) is an international peer-reviewed general medical journal focused on promoting the science and art of medicine and the betterment of the public health. With more than 320,000 recipients of the print journal, 1.2 million recipients of electronic tables of contents and alerts, and over 20 million annual visits to the journal’s websites, JAMA is the most widely circulated medical journal in the world. In addition, JAMA is a member of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, cosponsors the International Congress on Peer Review and Biomedical Publication, is a member of the African Journal Partnership Project, and is partnered with the Malawi Medical Journal.
The Lancet is an independent, international weekly general medical journal. Founded in 1823, The Lancet applies scientific knowledge to improve health and advance human progress. To provide a unique global reach and impact on health, The Lancet works with a global network of researchers, clinicians, industry professionals, policy makers, media outlets, patients, and the wider public. The Lancet ranks second among 169 general and internal medicine journals globally.
The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) is recognized as the world’s leading medical journal and website. Published continuously for over 200 years, NEJM delivers high-quality, peer-reviewed research and interactive clinical content to physicians, educators, researchers, and the global medical community.
Sources:
1 https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/finding-and-evaluating-online-resources
3 https://undsci.berkeley.edu/glossary/glossary_popup.php?word=evidence
Building Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccines: The COVID-19 State of Vaccine Confidence Insights Report is a biweekly report highlighting emerging issues of misinformation, disinformation, places where intervention efforts can positively impact vaccine confidence across the United States, and major themes influencing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and uptake.
Coronavirus Facts Database: A database that gathers falsehoods that have been detected by the CoronaVirusFacts/DatosCoronaVirus alliance. This database unites fact-checkers in more than 70 countries and includes articles published in at least 40 languages.
COVID-19 Misconceptions: SciCheck’s COVID-19/Vaccination Project’s goal is to increase exposure to accurate information about COVID-19 and vaccines, while decreasing the impact of misinformation. On this page, you will find answers to commonly asked questions, as well as links to articles debunking misinformation.
Digital Health Literacy Tools: The Network of the National Library of Medicine and All of Us, in partnership with the Public Library Association (PLA) and Wisconsin Health Literacy, created Digital Health Literacy Tools with the intent to reach people on the other side of the digital divide. These tools help people gain the skills needed to access and evaluate health information online and participate in the All of Us Research Program (All of Us).
Evaluating Internet Health Information - A Tutorial: The Network of the National Library of Medicine and MedlinePlus teaches people how to evaluate and find reliable sources on the internet. This resource also teaches people how to make proactive decisions about their health.
Get the Facts on COVID-19 Vaccines, Boosters, and Additional Doses: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) offers fact sheets in multiple languages on topics such as choosing the vaccine that’s right for you, Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Moderna vaccine, Pfizer vaccine, and busting myths with the facts.
How to Address COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shares strategies for communicating accurate information about COVID-19 vaccines, responding to gaps in information, and confronting misinformation with evidence-based messaging from credible sources.
How to Detect Misinformation: A quick guide on detecting misinformation, disinformation, lies, and conspiracy theories about vaccines.
Myth vs. Fact: Making Sense of COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation: The Brink took some of the most widespread myths about COVID-19 vaccines to two leading infectious disease experts and documented their responses to the myths.
Health Literacy On Demand Class: The Network on the National Library of Medicine offers training for those who provide health information to the public. Many pieces of training support the understanding of health literacy and its effects on health, while other aspects of the training help professionals gain needed skills to address health literacy in their communities.
San Diego Circut: A guide to find health information in San Diego County.
Social Listening and Monitoring Tools: These tools can be used to collect data from social and traditional media platforms to track online discussions, trends, and sentiments about a topic. It is useful for understanding the information landscape (including misinformation) and concerns and attitudes of your community of focus.
COVID-19 Website