Combating Misinformation
We live in a world with information readily available at our fingertips, more than any other time in history. With computers and smart phones questions can be answered within a few minutes, if not less. Explanations and details and advice abound on the internet for all to find. It’s information overload.
There is an underlying problem with this glut of information: not all of it is accurate, much of it is biased, and some of it is actually completely incorrect. When you direct this conversation towards healthcare, an additional layer of complexity is added because medical information can be difficult to understand without a solid background of science and medical education. In addition, medical advice and best practices are constantly changing as more research is done and treatments are discovered or discarded based on these findings. This has led to the opportunity for staggering amounts of health misinformation to be found online in various forms.
Health misinformation is defined as “information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading according to the best available evidence at the time” (please see the link for the U.S. Surgeon General’s Toolkit in the Resources section below). A lot of health misinformation is not completely false, rather it contains a small amount of truth but lacks the proper context for the information. This health misinformation can spread very quickly through social media forums, and is causing unnecessary harm to both individuals and communities.
To be honest, this is one of the biggest reasons I started this blog. I wanted parents to have a safe place to go for accurate, science-based information. An alternative to “Dr Google,” where they do not have to worry about misinformation. It is why I give references when discussing specific study or research results or recommendations, and why I include sources and other links for further education. I want parents to know that the information found on astheygrow.blog is based in evidence-based science whenever possible.
So how do parents go about making sure the information they obtain online is accurate? Here are some tips:
Check the source
There are literally thousands of medical websites online. Some are accurate and do a great job of providing up to date medial information, while others do not. Learning to choose trustworthy websites as sources of information is essential if you plan to gather information online. So how can you tell? Medical and health care organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics or the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, are a great place to start. In addition, health websites sponsored by the government, such as the National Institutes of Health or Medline Plus, are very good sources of information though they can be a bit heavy on medical language.
Before trusting a website, find out who own and runs it. Knowing who funds the website can help you understand the goals of the site. Also, try to understand the purpose of the site. Websites that are trying to sell you a product or a service are usually more biased. Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish information from advertising.
Additionally, check to see who the authors are. Look for health care professionals or researchers and if possible check to see if there is a connection between the authors and the website. Be very cautious about testimonials, individual blogs, and discussion boards. Look for references that will back up the information they contain. Trustworthy sites will have some way of contacting the authors or contributors, or at least the individuals who run the website.
Check the science
One of the important things we learn in medical training is how to evaluate research. Was it done correctly and without bias? Were the parameters set in a way that the question can be answered without outside influence? Was the size of the study big enough determine if the results can be applied to an overall population?
These questions can be difficult to assess on a superficial level. Looking at the way in which the study or research was done can help to determine if the findings are true and accurate or if they have been skewed. Often, at least a general understanding of biology, physiology and statistics is needed for this. Unfortunately, this is another way for misinformation to be spread – if you don’t know how to judge the accuracy of study claims, you may assume the author to be correct and end up sharing incorrect information without realizing it.
Check the date
When was the article written and/or updated? Look for websites that stay up to date with current events and information. This doesn’t mean that all old information is inaccurate, but there may be new developments that make an impact.
Also, it is common for old articles to pop up on social media and be mistaken for new information. Before reacting to statements or sharing content on social media accounts, please check the date that the article was written.
Check the format
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, there are seven common types of health misinformation:
- Memes: these are graphics or images that are usually created as a joke but are misinterpreted and then passed along as fact.
- Out-of-date images: older images or headlines will recirculate as “new information,” particularly on social media. This is misleading because there is often new data that refutes or updates this information.
- Quotations: while direct quotes seem like they could be taken as fact, often the beginning or end of the statement is missing, changing the intent and meaning. Without the full conversation or context, the quotation can be easily misinterpreted.
- Videos: these can be edited to change the meaning of the original message. They can be shortened or spliced with other videos to alter that original intent.
- Websites: unfortunately, anyone can develop a website and post any information they want. There is no required verification of information. Usually these websites are very professional in appearance and have attention-grabbing headlines, but the information contained in the stories is false or misleading.
- Cherry-picked statistics: this is the process of choosing specific parts of results that support an argument, while ignoring the rest of the data.
- Misleading graphs: along with cherry-picked statistics, graphs and diagrams can be created or taken out of context, creating the appearance of supporting data that is not true. Use of graphs and diagrams makes information appear more official, even if it is false.
Final Thoughts
A phrase I hear often from parents is “I want to do my own research first.” This is fine! I want parents to be well-informed and to be seeking out information regarding their child’s health.
However.
I often wonder what that research process looks like for them. Do they search on reputable websites? Do they verify that the findings are unbiased?
Do they trust my recommendations?
When we become physicians, the learning does not stop at graduation or completion of training. As mentioned before, research in all areas of medicine is constantly being done to ensure we are caring for patients in the best ways possible. This means that recommendations for care will (and should) change over time. It is my responsibility as a Pediatrician to be as up to date as possible in regards to health and safety recommendations and treatment guidelines, and then to give advice based on this knowledge. It is my hope that the parents of my patients trust that knowledge and the process that goes into developing those recommendations. It is also my hope that parents take the time to assess the information they obtain outside of my care with the same diligence.
Resources
https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/health-misinformation-toolkit-english.pdf
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/healthy-aging/how-find-reliable-health-information-online
https://medlineplus.gov/evaluatinghealthinformation.html
astheygrow.blog resources page
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