Author's note: This column is intended for educational purposes only. It aims to highlight gaps in health knowledge, provide support and empower organizations to guide their members in creating effective health and wellness programs.

Health misinformation isn’t simply a problem with people believing something that’s untrue. It can change what people do with their health – and those choices have real consequences for individuals, families, communities and the healthcare system.

An important distinction between disinformation and misinformation is this:

• Misinformation is inaccurate or misleading health information shared without intending to deceive. Someone may genuinely believe what they are sharing.
• Disinformation is false or misleading information that is deliberately created or spread to deceive, manipulate or achieve some objective.

• There is also a third category worth mentioning: information that is technically true but misleading because it lacks context. A legitimate study, statistic or medical finding can be presented in a way that gives people an inaccurate impression.

Why does this matter?

1. Health decisions are personal – and sometimes irreversible.

People make decisions about medications, vaccines, screenings, diets, supplements, surgery and treatments (sometimes life-altering) based on what they believe to be true. For example, someone hears about a miraculous cancer treatment or surgery in another country and delays the planned care at home, only to discover, too late, that the “miraculous” treatment was a hoax. I have experienced patients who have gone through that. Well-meaning but erroneous health information can lead someone to delay or abandon appropriate care.

2. Fear spreads faster than nuance.

Health science is complicated. Treatments do not benefit everyone the same way and often depend on what other medications or treatments are being used. This doesn’t travel as quickly as “doctors don’t want you to know this.”

3. Distrust becomes contagious.

It’s hard to know what to trust when you face conflicting health claims, which can lead to delayed action or no action at all. Questioning medical advice is sound thinking. Asking your provider for evidence, seeking a second opinion or even challenging conventional thinking is appropriate. The problem comes when claims are presented as established facts without adequate evidence.

4. It can turn healthcare into an “us versus them” argument.

We see this frequently online and in advertisements, between doctors and patients or when the word “science” is used to quell questioning rather than opening a dialogue. Remember, neither skepticism nor enthusiasm substitutes for evidence! Health science changes. Studies sometimes contradict one another. Early evidence can turn out to be wrong. Medical recommendations evolve and researchers disagree. Add pharmaceutical companies, medical institutions’ policies and protocols, alternative health advocates, government agencies, journalists and influencers into the mix, and the evidence becomes obscure. The answer isn’t simply: “trust the experts.”

Scientific evidence seeks to educate, not persuade. Watch out for loaded emotional content, anecdotes or misleading statistics. Health care professionals are there to help you make informed health decisions.

Using the internet for health information should come with a “buyer beware” prompt. While it can be helpful in offering vague advice, it is not aware of your allergies, medications, diet, family history and a myriad of other medical data needed for a legitimate diagnosis and treatment plan. The same applies to your neighbor’s aunt’s hairdresser in California, who had the same symptoms years ago. Trust but verify.

Ask questions:

• Who is making the claim?
• What evidence supports it?

• How strong is that evidence?
• Does the evidence support the conclusion being presented?
• Are there competing studies?
• Who funded the research?
• Is this an established finding or an emerging hypothesis?
• What are the risks of delay versus acting on the information?
• Is the information being provided to help decide, or is it designed to make the decision for you?

In conclusion, health literacy is a personal responsibility and involves giving people the knowledge they need to participate meaningfully in their own health care.

Dr. Cheryl Christy is a Baldwin County resident and registered nurse with nearly 30 years of experience. She holds master's degrees in nursing education and nursing practice and a doctorate in nursing practice. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, Phi Pi Chapter, a certified lay counselor and the author of "Voices for Healthcare," a health care blog.

Read her previous column titled "Recovering from illness or injury" on www.GulfCoastMedia.com. Her blog can be found at https://substack.com/@dnprn.