In the last 20 years, the internet has put the world of information at our fingertips. But finding reliable, accurate and meaningful information about health and healthcare is becoming increasingly difficult. Influencers post videos with information that is not supported by science. Artificial intelligence (AI) writes health content without expert human oversight.

To help separate reliable information from false or misleading claims, you can build your health literacy skills. According to Mike Jundi, MLS, Aultman College librarian, there are different levels of health literacy:

• Functional literacy involves basic skills to find and read, listen to or view information.

• Interactive literacy is the ability to interpret and use information.

• Critical literacy is the ability to assess information from multiple sources to make health-related choices.

Critical literacy skills will help you filter out unreliable information. Ask yourself the following questions as you read or view health information:

1. Who wrote or created the information? Why are they an expert on this topic?

2. Who published the information and why?

3. Who paid for the study that produced this information?

4. Does this information seem too good to be true?

Answering these questions helps to build your critical thinking skills and helps you choose information sources that are factual and reliable.

Another resource for finding reliable health information is a health science librarian (HSL). In many organizations, including Aultman, HSLs bridge the gap between complex medical information and what patients need to understand.

“As healthcare continues to evolve, the role of HSLs in fostering health literacy and bridging information gaps remains crucial for advancing patient care and outcomes,” Jundi said.

The goal is to help patients and healthcare providers access trustworthy and relevant information to make informed decisions about healthcare.

HSLs excel in identifying and recommending high-quality, evidence-based resources. They guide patients to reliable sources for understanding their health conditions, treatment options and medication details.

Most importantly, HSLs can be a helpful, friendly companion who can guide information seekers into using appropriate resources for their benefit.

Librarians have been helping people improve their health literacy skills for more than 100 years. If you would like help improving your health literacy skills, contact a health science librarian near you. And talk to your healthcare provider – not the internet – whenever you have a health concern.

Sources:
Aultman Health System
Library and Information Science Research
Studies in Health Technology and Informatics