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Perhaps nowhere is the distinction between promotion and objective fact-based information more important than in health news, especially for seniors. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how to evaluate health information online.
One of the great opportunities of life today is the abundance of information available online. However, it is also one of today’s greatest dangers. So, what has changed, and how can you protect yourself?
Fact Checking Disappearing
A study published in 2021 by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) found that the United States was second only to India in misinformation about COVID-19.
Since then, checks on misinformation have been in steady decline.
The number of fact-checking sites has decreased over the last yearaccording to Duke University’s Reporters’ Lab.
Social media, never a source of well-documented information, has abdicated any responsibility to verify the information it allows. Meta formally ended its fact-checking efforts earlier this year. Furthermore, Google reported it would defy an EU mandate requiring fact-checking.
In addition, some government entities are cutting efforts to combat misinformation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced such a change a little over a week ago. He said that the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Office in the State Department is being terminated. That office’s mission was to counter foreign misinformation.
So, What Is Real
President Trump labels news reports that are unfavorable to him “fake news”. In doing so, it has confused the efforts of some people to distinguish between credible information and fabricated claims. That is especially troubling in evaluating health information online.
Fortunately, there are some red flags that can help you determine if a website and its information are to be trusted. Here are a few:
Product endorsements. Most news organizations have clearly identified display ads on their sites. However, they do not endorse products as part of news stories. It is likely that a site that does endorse a product was created to sell that product. That is not necessarily bad. But you should be aware of that. Once more, you should evaluate the information on such sites with a degree of skepticism. They present research claims that seem too good to be true. The old adage is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If the site does not back up claims with a credible source, beware.Contains a link to a sales site. Again, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Many legitimate companies use sales pages. However, before making a purchase, you need to evaluate the information presented for accuracy.Has only positive reader comments and will not let you leave a remark.Exaggerated Claims. A site that tells you its product can produce unrealistic results is suspect. These claims are known as “snake oil sales pitches”. That is because charlatans frequently traveled the country selling fake cures, often from snake oil.
Even Brand Names May Tell Whoppers
Those itinerant fraudsters may be long gone, but their spirit is alive and well online. Even legitimate companies have been guilty of overstating their products’ benefits. Examples include:
Gerber. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) settled a lawsuit with Gerber in 2019. The agency charged the company, which falsely claimed its Good Start Gentle formula prevented children from developing allergies. As a result, Gerber stopped making the claim.Sensa. This company produced a product it said would result in weight loss. The FTC determined the claims were false. In addition, it found that the company had paid people to endorse their product. In the end, Sensa paid $26.5 million in a settlement.Other companies that changed claims include shoe makers Skechers and New Balance. Skechers claimed their Shape-Ups shoes helped wearers lose weight, while New Balance asserted its toning shoe helped wearers burn calories.
Credible Sources
Many web articles will refer to research. Look for a link if a story cites a particular study. You do not have to read the entire study to gauge its credibility. Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) or NIH’s National Library of Medicine, for instance, lists the authors and is almost always peer reviewed. That means an authority, such as a physician or other researcher, has fact-checked the article.
Some studies will clearly state that their research has been peer reviewed and by whom. Other publications will note that an editorial board reviews the research they publish. Review disclosures are usually at the beginning of the study or at the end in an acknowledgement statement.
Testimonials, as noted above, are not always unsolicited. Likewise, opinions, anecdotes, and undocumented claims are not fact-based evidence.
Another area to check is the date of the article and the research cited. Generally, anything more than a few years old may be out of date. That is, unless the research covers a specific time period.
Who Is The Site Benefiting
One of the simplest ways to check a site for bias is to click on the “About” section, usually found at the top or bottom of the home page. There, you should learn who owns and runs the site. If that information is not clear, you may want to leave the site.
Another way to determine a site’s reliability, according to the NIH, is to check the web address. A site with a .gov or .edu address is generally considered reliable. These are the designations you should be aware of:
.gov signifies a government website..edu indicates an educational site, such as a university..org usually means the site is run by a noncommercial organization. However, some such sites are designed to promote a social or political program..com tends to be for commercial businesses.
Starting Points For How To Evaluate Health Information Online
The federal government provides two starting points for evaluating health information.
MedlinePlus.gov is a free website that provides up-to-date health information. It is sponsored by the National Library of Medicine, which is part of the NIH. Additionally, the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sponsors MyHealthfinder.gov. This site offers preventive care information and tools based on age, sex, and pregnancy status.
In addition, many medical schools, such as Harvard’s health.harvard.edu/ publish information about illnesses and health. Renowned health centers, such as the Mayo Clinic (mayoclinic.org/) or the Cleveland Clinic (my.clevelandclinic.org/health), offer free health information.
Complementary health information can be found at the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) website. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements is a resource for information on nutritional supplements.
The NCCIH’s Links to Other Organizations page offers additional resources. At the time of publication, the WHO is still listed on the other organizations page. However, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his first day back in office, withdrawing the United States from the international health resource.
A Word Of Caution
We at SA are big fans of reliable information and personal inquiry. We hope the information provided here helps you to gain reliable information about your health. You owe it to yourself and your family to be a well-informed patient. However, as the NIH cautions, “Don’t rely on online resources alone when making decisions about your health.” In other words, always consult your physician before making changes in your health regimen.
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Max K. Erkiletian began writing for newspapers while still in high school. He went on to become an award-winning journalist and co-founder of the print magazine Free Bird. He has written for a wide range of regional and national publications as well as many on-line publications. That has afforded him the opportunity to interview a variety of prominent figures from former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank Paul Volker to Blues musicians Muddy Waters and B. B. King. Max lives in Springfield, MO with his wife Karen and their cat – Pudge. He spends as much time as possible with his kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
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