Ask what is being claimed, who is making the claim, and what evidence would actually support it.
Make the claim specific
A phrase such as supports wellness can mean almost anything. Ask what outcome the writer is describing, for whom, and over what period. If those details are missing, you may not have a claim precise enough to evaluate. Save the original wording rather than replacing it with a stronger promise in your notes.
Find the original information
Look for a link to the source rather than relying on a screenshot or a summary. Check whether you are reading a study, a commentary, a news article, or advertising. NCCIH's online resource guide separates these settings and includes material on finding health information online, on apps, and on social media, as well as distinguishing news from advertising. [1]
Ask who the information applies to
A finding about one population or one intervention does not automatically establish the same result for everyone or for a different product. Write down the relevant population, intervention, comparison, and outcome if the source provides them. If the article does not provide enough detail, keep the question open.
Notice the commercial context
Check who publishes the page and whether the writer sells the product or service being discussed. A financial interest does not by itself tell you whether a claim is correct, but it is part of the context you need. Be especially careful when the only supporting material is a sales page or a personal testimonial.
Take a useful question to your clinician
Instead of asking whether a headline is true in general, ask whether the evidence applies to your situation and whether an option would interact with your care. You can bring the source link and the exact claim. Our editorial standards explain how this publication handles sources and its connection to the founder's wellness business.
Work through a hypothetical sales claim
Consider the invented statement “our wellness session improves recovery.” Save that exact wording. Ask what recovery means here, which people were studied, what the session involved, and what it was compared with. A study of another device or a testimonial describing a pleasant visit cannot answer all those questions. If the seller does not supply the source, label the evidence as unresolved. This example shows a checking process; it is not a judgment about a specific service or business.
Keep an evidence note you can revisit
Use a compact note with the claim, the original source address, the source type, and the question still open. Add a date so you know when you checked it. Keep marketing wording separate from the outcome actually reported. If you cannot understand the study methods, bring the source to an appropriately qualified professional rather than relying on a confident summary. A useful conclusion can be “I do not yet have enough information to decide.” There is no obligation to buy while the evidence remains unclear.
Common questions
Does a source link prove a claim?
No. The source still needs to support the specific claim and apply to the context being discussed.
Are personal testimonials research evidence?
A testimonial reports an individual's experience. It cannot establish that an intervention caused the result or predict what will happen for someone else.
Sources & further reading
Sources checked 2026-10-06. Later checks are dated beside individual resources. Links provide background on the topic; practical checklists are editorial planning suggestions. This guide has not received independent clinical review. Read our standards and disclosure.
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