Patients researching health conditions on the Internet should use reputable and frequently updated websites and not see online research as a replacement for consulting healthcare professionals. A research review has found that 86% of adult patients use the internet to get answers to health-related questions, but only 28 to 41% consult primary healthcare providers about the information they find out. The discrepancy suggests that the majority of users accept web-based health recommendations in lieu of professional advice. That’s why the team have come up with an acronym - GATOR (genuine, accurate, trustworthy, origin and readability) - to encourage healthy surfing. Short for alligator, it provides a reminder of the dangers that people can face if they surf for health advice without sufficient safeguards in place.