Truth or Dare: Staying Informed in an Age of Misinformation

“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting its boots on.” *

It’s not easy to cut through the clutter in our world of often viral misinformation and find irrefutable facts. Healthcare is especially prone to misinterpretation because the scientific method—developing, testing, experimenting and refining hypotheses—can seem imperfect but is fundamental to reaching a solid conclusion. As the evidence evolves, previous findings may be corroborated, but may also be contradicted. Importantly, even some widely publicized studies may be unreliable or not based on a solid foundation. All of which proves frustrating to people seeking unequivocal advice on issues ranging from nutrition (is a low fat diet healthier than a high protein one?) to exercise (are 10,000 daily steps necessary or will 5,000 do?) to longevity (can a healthy lifestyle overcome challenging genetics?). No definitive answers just yet, but as new research reports continue to flow in, we offer this short guide to help you identify the characteristics of a good, credible scientific study.

• Randomized design, where participants are divided into control and test groups in a random manner to minimize the chance of bias. This is the gold standard of research, ensuring findings are causal and not confounded by other factors.

• Double-blinded, where neither participants or researchers are aware of whether the participant is in the control or test group.

• Observational, where the effects of a risk factor or treatment are studied over time without changing who is or isn’t exposed to them; used to develop the Surgeon General’s advisory on alcohol and cancer risk.

• A large enough sample size to have statistically significant findings, and allow for a range of individual differences.

• Has been replicated by other researchers.

• Results published in a peer-reviewed, respected professional journal, with no conflicts of interest reported by the researchers.

*Has been erroneously attributed to Mark Twain; but actually appeared in the 1859 book Spurgeon’s Gems by Rev. CH Spurgeon.

Set Your Sites

Start with any of these 18 websites for trustworthy health information:

1. Mayoclinic.org – Mayo Clinic guide to diseases and conditions

2. HopkinsMedicine.org – Johns Hopkins Medicine

3. Health.Harvard.edu – Harvard Health Publishing – Harvard Medical School

4. MerckManuals.com – Consumer version of medical reference book used by physicians since 1899

5. EatRight.org – American Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics

6. Heart.org — American Heart Association

7. Diabetes.org —  American Diabetes Association

8. FamilyDoctor.org – American Academy of Family Physicians

9. HealthChildren.org – American Academy of Pediatrics

10. Sexetc.org – Teen sexual health information, sponsored by Rutgers University

11. Meopause.org – National Menopause Society

12. HealthinAging.org – American Geriatrics Society

13. TheConversationProject.org – Advanced care planning

14. NCCN.org – National Comprehensive Cancer Network

15. NAMI.org – National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

16. Rarediseases.org – National Organization for Rare Diseases

17. VeryWellFit.com – Very Well Fit

18. ACEFitness.org – American Council on Exercise

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