This informal CPD article ‘The Information Epidemic: Navigating Health Misinformation in the Digital Age’ was provided by Cima Care, who offer extensive training in vaccination and public health, advancing global health initiatives.
Have You Been Recently Misled?
Many individuals turn to social media platforms for health information and guidance. However, it is crucial to recognize that much of this content—including claims about "breakthrough treatments" or "revolutionary health approaches"—may lack scientific validity. The digital health information landscape requires careful navigation and critical evaluation.
A recent Lancet editorial has sounded the alarm: we are facing a health misinformation crisis of unprecedented scale. 1 While false health claims are not new, the COVID-19 pandemic marked a watershed moment in how rapidly misleading information spreads—with potentially life-threatening consequences.
The Hidden Danger in Your News Feed
Think about it: every day, millions of people encounter health information online. But can you tell what is reliable and what is not? The consequences of getting it wrong can be serious.
Today's digital landscape is rife with both misinformation (false information shared without intent to deceive) and disinformation (deliberately deceptive content).
We are witnessing alarming trends:
- Cancer patients abandoning proven treatments for unregulated "natural" remedies
- Mental health conditions being trivialized or stigmatized
- Evidence-based approaches being undermined by influencer-backed alternatives
- Scientists and health professionals being faced with attacks that corrupt public trust.1
The numbers tell a shocking story: falsehoods are 70% more likely to be shared than accurate information on some platforms.2,6 With over 90% of Americans using social media for health information, the lack of standards around content monitoring poses substantial risks to public health.3
The Accountability Gap: When Digital Platforms Reduce Oversight
When we need more supervision, many platforms do the opposite. A social media platform’s recent decision to scale back fact-checking exemplifies a troubling trend of reduced content monitoring.1
This retreat comes as research shows that social media algorithms actively amplify false narratives through echo chambers. 4 Without rigorous standards for health content, how can users separate fact from fiction?
Digital landscape rife with misinformation
What Makes Health Information Trustworthy?
According to experts, credible health information must:
- Be science-based and consistent with current evidence.
- Acknowledge limitations and uncertainties transparently.
- Disclose financial relationships or conflicts of interest.
- Promptly correct errors when identified.
- Update content as scientific knowledge evolves. 3
Effective fact-checking works best when content is clear, accessible, culturally relevant, and comes from transparent sources. Clear communication that acknowledges context and limitations builds public trust and ensures fact-checking achieves its corrective purpose. 5
When Trust Erodes, Health Suffers
The damage from misinformation extends beyond individual decisions. Studies reveal a disturbing pattern: as false information spreads, it fundamentally alters how people engage with healthcare systems and public health guidance.
Research shows that people exposed to COVID-19 misinformation were significantly more likely to lose trust in public institutions, political leaders, and government health recommendations.4 This erosion of trust creates ripple effects that can last for generations.
Three Pillars of an Effective Response
The successful approaches to combating health misinformation incorporate interconnected strategies, including the three pillars below:
- Evidence-Based Public Education: Providing timely, validated health information from trusted sources when people seek answers.
- Healthcare Provider Training: Equipping professionals with both scientific knowledge and effective communication strategies through continuous professional development.
- Research-Based Trust Building: Translating complex health science into accessible, accurate content while transparently acknowledging limitations and uncertainties.
Your Role in Resisting False Information
While institutions work to address misinformation, we each have a responsibility to become wiser consumers of health information. Before sharing health content, ask yourself:
- Is this information based on scientific evidence?
- Does it acknowledge limitations and uncertainties?
- Are financial conflicts of interest disclosed?
- Is the source transparent about corrections and updates?
- Does it align with guidance from established health authorities? 3
We can contribute to a healthier information environment by applying these critical thinking skills.
The Path Forward
The challenge of health misinformation requires a coordinated response from technology companies, health authorities, media organisations, and individuals. By establishing clear standards for credible health information and developing innovative tools to deliver it, we can build resilience against the surge of false claims.
The stakes could not be higher: accurate health information is not just about being well-informed—it can be a matter of life and death.
We hope this article was helpful. For more information from Cima Care, please visit their CPD Member Directory page. Alternatively, you can go to the CPD Industry Hubs for more articles, courses and events relevant to your Continuing Professional Development requirements.
References:
1- The Lancet. Health in the age of disinformation. Lancet (London, England). 2025 Jan 18;405(10474):173.
2- Vosoughi S, Roy D, Aral S. The spread of true and false news online. science. 2018 Mar 9;359(6380):1146-51.
3- Burstin H, Curry S, Ranney ML, Arora V, Wachler BB, Chou WY, Correa R, Cryer D, Dizon D, Flores EJ, Harmon G. Identifying Credible Sources of Health Information in Social Media: Phase 2—Considerations for Non-Accredited Nonprofit Organizations, For-Profit Entities, and Individual Sources. NAM perspectives. 2023;2023.
4- Bruns H, Dessart FJ, Pantazi M. Covid-19 misinformation: Preparing for future crises. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. 2022 Sep.
5- Walter N, Cohen J, Holbert RL, Morag Y. Fact-checking: A meta-analysis of what works and for whom. Political communication. 2020 May 3;37(3):350-75.
6- WHO. Combatting misinformation online [Internet]. www.who.int. Available from: https://www.who.int/teams/digital-health-and-innovation/digital-channels/combatting-misinformation-online
