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Reliable Medical Information is Essential for Good Health


The Medical News Today cites recent surveys showing Americans are vulnerable to misinformation via social and mass market media as well as from friends and family. As this can include critical medical information, they warn while there is a fount of easily accessible content, there are things we can do to protect ourselves from inaccurate advice.

According to a 2024 survey from Healthline, more than half of American respondents said they got health information via social media, while another 32% said they turned to family, friends, and colleagues for health advice. To help empower us to make good medical decisions, Medical News Today spoke with Dawn Holford, PhD from the School of Psychological Science at the University of Bristol, U.K. who specializes in the psychology of communication and decision-making.

Holford suggests people double check information with more than one reliable source to look for consensus across the board. She also adamantly says it is up to medical new websites like Medical News Today to be extra diligent to ensure their information is correct. In terms of the consumer, she recommends using trusted governmental public health organizations as well as global ones like the World Health Organization. In addition, look for well-vetted independent sites and reach out to trusted healthcare providers.

Following her rule of thumb, Holford cautions to be on your guard. She explains, “If something seems to align to what you already believe — it may well be correct, but follow the same steps to verify it.”

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