Our top tips for understanding health information

How many times have you come across a post on social media touting some new health care treatment?

Now the question is, what do you do with that information?

“If you’re reading an article that raises some alarms or questions, you don’t want to put all your trust in that one article,” explains Gretchen LaSalle, MD, a family medicine provider at MultiCare Rockwood Clinic. “For science’s sake, you want to look at the overwhelming evidence, not just one piece. So, try looking it up from other sources and see if multiple people came to the same conclusion.”

That means doing some research and bringing questions to your doctor or other health care provider. When it comes to your health, though, it’s worth it.

What is health literacy?

Health literacy is the ability to use available information to make informed decisions about you and your family’s health care, explains Andrea Ball, MLS, MultiCare’s research and education librarian.

It goes beyond just knowing how to find quality information and understand it, she says. Ball breaks down health literacy into three categories:

1. Searching: Where to find quality, evidence-based health information
2. Evaluating: How to look at the information with a critical eye
3. Applying: Using that information to make informed health care decisions

“Gone are the days of that ‘doctor knows best’ approach,” Dr. LaSalle says. “People want to know about their health and expect to be partners. If they want to be that, they need to be informed.”

You’ll still need to put trust in your provider to lead you in the right direction, she adds.

Every patient is unique and even the most up-to-date, evidence-based information may not be applicable to your unique situation, Ball says. That’s why it’s so important to do your research and talk with your provider before making any decisions.

“From the doctor’s side, I want my patients to be educated,” Dr. LaSalle says. “I like when patients bring questions.”

Tips for effective research

Always question your sources, Dr. LaSalle says.

She recommends sticking to websites with a URL of .edu, .gov or .org. Or look for disease-specific sites or professional societies like the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, or American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Also make sure you’re checking the date of the post or article, she adds. Things change quickly, and you want the most up-to-date information.

If you’re looking for a patient perspective, Dr. LaSalle says there are trusted sources online who have advisors to review the information being shared for accuracy. For example, voicesforvaccines.org provides credible and trusted information from your community about vaccines.

“Sometimes you just need a different point of view,” she says. “But look at the background of people giving you the advice. Are they trained or have the knowledge to give this advice? Or if someone is trying to sell you something, I’d steer clear.”

If a post or article is eliciting an emotional response or tone, it may be something to consider avoiding, Dr. LaSalle adds. Science is more often written in a factual tone.

Case study: Vaccines

During respiratory season, the question of whether to get vaccinated comes up often, Dr. LaSalle says.

“I talk a lot about how some viruses and bacteria are stable, which is why you get a series of vaccines for things like measles as a kid and will likely never need it again,” she explains. “But some mutate constantly, like influenza and COVID-19. The memory our bodies have of that virus doesn’t last long enough to protect us against it, which is why we need to maintain vaccines year over year.”

For COVID-19 specifically, Dr. LaSalle explains how many people never got vaccinated during the first round of vaccines because they were concerned about how quickly they were created, their long-term safety and the potential immediate sick feeling after.

With some research or a conversation with your provider, you’ll learn there are other options, she says. For example, Novavax is a more traditional vaccine, like those you may have received as a child, which people tend to have less reactive symptoms to.

“Our focus should be on preventing serious outcomes and protecting those around us who are especially at risk,” Dr. LaSalle says. “There’s also so much we don’t know about the long-term impacts of having COVID … you might get over the illness now, but you don’t know what it’s going to cause in the future.”

Make a list of questions, do your research and consult your provider whenever possible.