Subject Guides: Health Misinformation: General

Summary

What is health misinformation?

According to the Office of the Surgeon General it is "information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading according to the best available evidence at the time."

False or misleading information about diseases, illnesses, potential treatments and cures, vaccines, diets and cosmetic procedures are causing people to make decisions that could have dangerous consequences for their health. This type of information can spread through communities, within families, and between friends.

Often, we’re trying to help—so we share information that seems helpful. But the truth is that information connected to health and medicine involves rigorous research and complex science. Advice might change as more research is undertaken, meaning even “official” advice from a few months ago might be out of date. When we rely on friends or internet searches for the best information, we might inadvertently be putting ourselves in harm’s way.

Health misinformation is causing harm to individuals and to communities, but talking to one another about its impact can help slow the spread by prompting us to think twice about the information we’re reading and sharing.

A Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation

Patient Handouts

These handouts are to empower patients to ask questions to their providers, and are a helpful tool for providers to point patients to ensure they have all the information they need.

Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials: 5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Doctor’s Appointment
About Personal Medical Decisions
MedlinePlus: Shared decision making
American Academy of Family Physicians: Patient Pre-Visit Checklist and Today's Visit Form
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: Be More Engaged in Your Healthcare

Health Literacy

What is health literacy?

Health literacy involves the information that people need to be able to make good decisions about health. There are two parts:

Personal health literacy is about how well a person can find and understand the health information and services that they need. It is also about using the information and services to make good health decisions.
Organizational health literacy is about how well organizations help people find the health information and services that they need. It also includes helping them use that information to make good health decisions.

Key Health Literacy Research Findings

We must not blame the individual for not understanding information that has not been made clear.
Everyone, no matter how educated, is at risk for misunderstanding health information if the topic is emotionally charged or complex.
In almost all cases, physicians and other health professionals try to, and believe they are, communicating accurate information.
In some cases, patients may believe they have understood directions but may be embarrassed to ask questions to confirm their understanding.
Health care organizations and their systems and procedures have a significant role to play in ensuring understanding in the health care setting.
It is increasingly difficult for people to separate evidence-based information, especially online, from misleading ads and gimmicks.
The communication of “risk” in an effective and fair way continues to be a challenge for both the provider and the patient.
There are additional challenges in understanding how to select insurance plans and benefits, especially for those who have not previously been insured.