Health Information Week is a national, multi-sector campaign promoting high-quality information for patients and the public. High quality health information can have a huge impact on people’s ability to stay healthy and manage illnesses effectively, giving them a better quality of life.
This year, one of the themes of Health Information Week is media literacy.
We probably all assume that we are good judges of what we read online, but it’s worth thinking about it: what health news would you trust, and why?
- Would you know how to spot fake news?
- Would you know how to report fake news on Facebook?
- How does Twitter deal with misleading information about Covid?
- How do you teach children to assess health information that they find on the web?
We’ve all been in a situation where someone has shared health misinformation, in good faith, that they have found online.
Suggesting an alternative resource can be a good way to combat this.
Have a look at the Health Information Week website for a list of useful websites: there are some excellent resources that give you balanced, unbiased, informative information about online health news.
These sites are great learning tools, and they’re also brilliant for sharing with others, whether they are family members, friends, patients or colleagues.
For children and teenagers, the Find The Fake game from internetmatters.org is a great way to learn about learn about spotting fake news in a fun, safe environment.
Follow Health Information Week on Twitter @Healthinfoweek, #HIW2022 for more hints, tips, resources and advice! Or get in touch with Cecilia Bethencourt-Dunning, our Patient Information Specialist Librarian.
