Finding quality health information: fact checking and asking the right questions
Health problems can be concerning for people, and sometimes the information we find online can be 'too good to be true' and misleading. Whether it's companies selling fake cure-all drugs, or websites proclaiming that eating certain foods can cure all of our ills, there is a lot of untrustworthy information online. Don't forget; you might see information on social media, like Facebook, Twitter and online forums; it's important to think about how much you can trust the information you see every day.
To make sure we can find the best information we can, it's important to ask:
WHO has written the information? Are they properly qualified to give you the information; are they a doctor or a nationally registered practitioner? Are they affiliated with a professional health organisation or charity, like the NHS or Age UK?
WHAT is the information trying to tell you? Does it link to research papers or other peer-reviewed evidence? Does the website look up to date?
NHS.uk offers free information on a huge variety of health topics. It is the ultimate health resource for the UK.