Every day, we encounter health information online that makes complex claims sound simple and certain: a supplement that promises better sleep, a new diet that could prevent disease, or a treatment that claims to solve a nagging health problem.
But the headline is rarely the whole story. Research has found that university press releases can sometimes make health findings sound stronger or more certain than the research actually shows. A small or early study can quickly turn into a much bigger claim once it reaches a headline, press release, or media story, so it is always important to go beyond the headline to understand what the research really means in practical terms.
There’s no shortage of health information out there to cause doubt and fear. Knowing what to trust has become an important skill. Having the capacity to find, understand, and use health information to make good decisions is known as health literacy.
According to the Canadian Public Health Association, 60% of Canadian adults over 16 and 88% of adults over 65 are not considered health literate. These statistics do not reflect intelligence or education, but rather how difficult it can be to find, understand, evaluate, and use health information in an increasingly complex information environment.
Why Does Health Literacy Matter?
Health literacy can affect the health decisions you make every day, from deciding when to seek care to understanding a diagnosis or treatment plan.
Here is what health literacy can look like in practice:
Better health decisions
- Recognizing when it may be appropriate to seek medical care
- Understanding your treatment options and recommendations
- Knowing whether a new symptom needs urgent attention, a routine appointment, or monitoring
Stronger communication with your healthcare team
- Describing your symptoms and concerns more clearly
- Understanding diagnoses, tests, and treatment plans
- Asking questions and speaking up when something is unclear
Less vulnerability to misinformation
- Spotting misleading or inaccurate health claims
- Avoiding unnecessary tests, screening, or treatment
- Reducing the confusion and anxiety that can come with researching a health concern
- Seeking appropriate care without unnecessary delays
Research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that low health literacy can be linked to poorer health outcomes and less effective use of healthcare services.
Learning how to identify misleading health content can help you pause and evaluate a claim before it changes how you eat, sleep, take medication, or manage a health concern.
How To Spot Unreliable Health Information
You can spot questionable health information by watching for a few common warning signs. The more red flags you see, the more carefully you should evaluate the information. Be cautious of:
- Claims that sound too good to be true
- Promised miracle cures or guaranteed results
- Sources that highlight only studies that support their claim while ignoring other evidence
- Content designed primarily to sell you a product
- Lots of testimonials being used instead of scientific evidence
- Advice that discourages you from consulting a healthcare professional
5 Questions to Help You Evaluate Health Information Online
Before acting on something you read online, ask yourself five simple questions:
1. Who wrote it?
- Is the author clearly identified?
- What are their qualifications or credentials?
- Do they have relevant expertise in the subject?
- Do they have a financial or other interest in convincing you to believe or buy something?
2. Where was it published?
Trustworthy information tends to come from:
- Government agencies
- Hospitals and healthcare organizations
- Academic institutions
- Professional medical organizations
- Reputable peer-reviewed medical or scientific journals
3. What evidence supports the claim?
- References to scientific research
- Links to the original studies
- Citations from reputable sources
4. Does the information apply to you?
- The information reflects current medical knowledge
- The research included people similar to you
- It is relevant to factors such as your age, sex, medical history, medications, and family history
- The benefits and risks described apply to your situation
5. Does it agree with other trusted sources?
- Compare the information across several reputable sources
- Look for consistency in the recommendations and findings
If one website makes a dramatic claim that you cannot find elsewhere, that is a reason to pause and investigate further.
Health literacy looks different for everyone
Your health information needs change throughout your life and depend on your personal circumstances. For example:
- Students and teens may need help evaluating health claims on social media.
- Young adults may be learning how to access healthcare services independently for the first time.
- Parents and caregivers often evaluate health information on someone else’s behalf.
- People living with chronic conditions may need to compare treatment options and understand complex medical information.
- Older adults and their caregivers may encounter more information about medications, screenings, and age-related conditions.
No one is expected to know everything. This is where having an evidence-based and trustworthy healthcare team can help. Rather than navigating conflicting advice on your own, you should bring your questions to knowledgeable professionals who can help put the information into context.
How to bring online health information to your next appointment
When you find a health claim online that feels relevant to you, bring it to your next appointment and ask about it.
Before your appointment, jot down:
- Where you found it: the website, social media platform, publication, or account
- What it actually claims: not just the headline, but the specific details
- What evidence it cites: human research, animal research, or no research at all
- What action it recommends: and who that recommendation is intended for
- Why it caught your attention and/or what concerns you: how is this relevant to your day-to-day?
This gives your healthcare professional useful context to assess whether the source is credible, whether the research is meaningful, and whether the information is relevant to you. Your health history can change how a general recommendation applies to you. A clinician who knows your history can help you determine whether a claim is worth acting on, worth discussing further, or best ignored.
Places to start for health information in Canada
When you’re looking for health information online, start with sources that are evidence-based, accountable, regularly updated, and relevant to Canadians. Government health agencies, public health organizations, established medical institutions, and your healthcare team are good places to start.
Government and public health resources
- Health Canada – Information about medications and health products, food and nutrition, vaccines, environmental health, healthy living, and other health and safety topics.
- Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) – Information about diseases and conditions, infectious diseases, public health alerts, prevention, healthy living, and health promotion.
- Ontario Ministry of Health and Public Health Units – Information about immunization, screening, healthy living, infectious diseases, sexual health, food safety, and other public health services in Ontario.
- MyHealth.Alberta.ca – Alberta’s government health-information resource, with easy-to-understand information about health conditions, medications, tests, treatments, and healthy living.
- HealthLink BC – B.C.’s trusted source for health information, including information about illnesses, medications, tests, immunizations, and many other health topics.
- World Health Organization (WHO) – International health information, particularly useful for global health issues, infectious diseases, and international health guidance.
Canadian medical and health organizations
- Canadian Medical Association (CMA) – Patient-friendly information and resources about healthcare, health misinformation, and navigating the Canadian healthcare system.
- Canadian Cancer Society – Evidence-based information about cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and living with cancer
- Canadian Paediatric Society – Reliable information for parents and caregivers about children’s and adolescents’ health.
Hospitals, healthcare organizations, and clinical resources
- Harrison Healthcare – Your Harrison Healthcare physician and Care Team can help you interpret health information and understand how it applies to your individual circumstances.
- Mayo Clinic – A well-established medical institution with a broad library of patient-friendly health information. Its general medical information can be a useful additional reference.
Remember that online health information is a starting point and not a substitute for personalized medical advice. If you have questions about symptoms, a diagnosis, medication, screening, or treatment, speak with your doctor, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, pharmacist, or another qualified healthcare professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between personal and organizational health literacy?
Personal health literacy is your ability to find, understand, evaluate, and use health information to make decisions about your health. Organizational health literacy refers to how well healthcare organizations make health information and services easy for people to find, understand, and use. Both matter, and the responsibility for making health information understandable should not rest entirely on the individual.
Can artificial intelligence tools be trusted for health information?
AI chatbots can be a helpful starting point for general health questions, but they can also provide outdated, incomplete, or incorrect information. Use AI to help you understand a topic or develop questions, not to diagnose yourself or replace medical advice. For anything important to your health, confirm the information with a qualified healthcare professional who understands your history and can review your symptoms.
How can I improve my own health literacy?
Start by choosing a few trusted sources and comparing what they say before acting on health advice you find online. Bring questions and information you find to your appointments and ask your healthcare team to explain anything that is unclear. You don’t need to become an expert. The goal is to become more comfortable asking questions, checking sources, and understanding your options.
How does a personalized healthcare team support health literacy?
A dedicated healthcare team can help you understand test results, compare treatment options, and determine how general health information applies to your individual circumstances.
Being an informed health consumer
Being an informed health-information consumer doesn’t mean becoming your own doctor. It means knowing what questions to ask, which sources to consider, and when to talk with a healthcare professional who can put information into context.
You don’t have to figure it out on your own. When you find a health claim that matters to you, bring it to your healthcare team and talk it through.
Our clinicians are here to help you separate reliable information from misinformation and make health decisions that are right for you.
