Making Informed Health Decisions - Feb 2023

Health Services Stall News

For Health and Wellness

Accurate information is essential to making good health decisions.

Every health/medical intervention, from taking a multivitamin to having major surgery, has associated risks and benefits. There is no such thing as an intervention that is 100% safe for everyone. However, many interventions, such as “eating more vegetables” or “washing your hands before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth” are very safe for almost everyone and have consistently demonstrated benefits that outweigh the risks. Unfortunately, making good health decisions is not always so straight forward. Risks and benefits for the exact same intervention, can change dramatically based on individual variables such as age, health status, family history, medical history, current medications, allergies, finances, environmental factors - just to name a few. This is why health decisions are best made in consultation with a healthcare provider. And this is also why we should all think twice before we like or retweet any health advice. Just because something seemed to work for one individual doesn’t mean it will be effective or even safe for someone else. Also, just because something didn’t seem necessary or wasn’t beneficial according to one person, doesn’t mean it couldn’t be lifesaving for another.

Information, Misinformation and Disinformation – Can You Tell the Difference?

The World Health Organization described the overabundance of information available during the COVID pandemic as an infodemic. The COVID infodemic included the often complex and confusing information provided by public health authorities, as well as the much more prolific and easily digestible misinformation (incorrect or misleading information) and disinformation (false information deliberately created to deceive), which seemingly sprouted from almost every source imaginable. The consequences of believing false information were devastating for many individuals, families, and communities. It has also led to increased mistrust of public health and government entities.

The good news is that we can learn from our mistakes. Below are two examples of positive trends emerging from our recent infodemic:

  1. Healthcare providers and public health entities are more aware of their responsibility to provide information to patients and the public in a clear (less technical), concise, and consistent manner.
  2. More resources are being developed to help individuals learn how to better recognize false information. Consider checking out Cranky Uncle, a game that uses cartoons and critical thinking to fight misinformation. Available for free on iPhone, Android, and as a browser game.

Simple Tips for Accessing Reliable Online Health Information

  • Use sites ending in “gov,” “edu”, or “org.”
  • Use sites that clearly identify the owner/sponsor and purpose.
  • Use sites where the expert’s credentials match the topic discussed.
  • Use information that is repeated on other reliable sites.
  • Be wary of sites selling products.
  • Be wary of sites boasting “100% Safe” or warning “Not 100% Safe.”
  • Be wary of sites designed to trigger strong emotions.
  • Be wary of sites using testimonials instead of data or expert review.
  • Be wary of sites offering quick solutions or “Miracle Cures