LibGuides: Media & Information Literacy in the Sciences: Health Information

Sources: Finding Reliable Healthcare Information Online; Nutrition Misinformation: How to Identify Fraud and Misleading Claims

Understanding Health Information

Evaluating Health Information
A collection of resources and articles on evaluating health information from MedlinePlus.
Understanding Medical Research
A collection of articles and resources to help readers better understand the process of medical research from MedlinePlus.
Know the Science
An initiative from the National Institutes of Health to help consumers better understand complex scientific topics that relate to health research and make well-informed decisions about their health.

Can you spot the problem with these headlines?

Recognizing Red Flags

Unfortunately, health and nutrition misinformation is very common across all kinds of media and information sources. To help navigate this misinformation, here are:

Top Ten Red Flags

for Health & Nutrition Misinformation

Recommendations that promise a quick fix.
Dire warnings of danger from a single product or regimen.
Claims that sound too good to be true.
Simplistic conclusions drawn from a complex study.
Recommendations based on a single study.
Dramatic statements that are refuted by reputable scientific organizations.
Lists of “good” and “bad” foods.
“Spinning” information from another product to match the producer’s claims.
Stating that research is “currently underway,” indicating that there is no current research.
Non-science based testimonials supporting the product, often from celebrities or highly satisfied customers.

For more information, check out the Nutrition Misinformation: How to Identify Fraud and Misleading Claims page and fact sheet from Colorado State University.

Health Information Resources

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the national public health agency of the United States. It is a United States federal agency, under the Department of Health and Human Services, and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mayo Clinic
The Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit American academic medical center focused on integrated health care, education, and research.
MedlinePlus
MedlinePlus is a service of the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the world's largest medical library, which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). MedlinePlus aims is to present high-quality, relevant health and wellness information that is trusted, easy to understand, and free of advertising, in both English and Spanish. Anywhere, anytime, on any device—for free.
World Health Organization (WHO)
Founded in 1948, WHO is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health.