Understanding facts and figures in health news stories
In today’s digital world, health information is very easy to access – it’s all there at the touch of a button. But it can be difficult to know how trustworthy that information is. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of fake health news and information on the internet. And it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by facts and figures when you see a health story in the news. Here, I’ll give some tips on how to find reliable health information – and help you separate fact from fiction.
Having round-the-clock access to high-quality health information can help you take control of your health and discover ways to live well. But fake or misleading health information can be scaremongering and even dangerous. It’s not always easy to know who to trust when searching for health information online. And fake news often spreads faster than the truth. You might even like, share or act on misinformation without realising.
So how can you make sure that the health information you’re reading online is trustworthy, reliable and accurate? Ask yourself these four questions, to find the facts, stop misinformation and spot fake health news.
1. Who is it coming from?
Start by asking yourself if the information has come from a credible source. Look at who the author is and if the right experts have helped to produce the information. Then look for an accreditation or mark of quality, such as the Patient Information Forum tick. This is only awarded to organisations who follow high quality standards when producing health information.
2. Where have the facts come from?
Make sure any claims are backed up by high-quality sources. Trustworthy organisations will be open about how they produced their information. Many will also include a list of sources so you can check where their facts came from and find out more.
3. When was it produced?
Check when the information was published or updated. Medical research is constantly evolving, so information should be dated within the last three years or less.
4. What do I understand now?
Finally, the information should be clear, free from complex language, medical jargon, and spelling mistakes. The best providers of health information will do their best to untangle the science and make it as easy as possible for you to understand.
So next time you’re searching for health information online, protect yourself and others from harmful misinformation by asking: Who, where, when and what?
How to find trustworthy information
It can sometimes be difficult to tell a reliable website from an unreliable one. Here are four key things to look out for.
1. Who’s it coming from?
Has the information come from a credible source? Check for signs of expert involvement – for example, a named doctor has written or reviewed the information. Or a quality mark, such as the Patient Information Forum (PIF) tick.
2. Where have the facts come from?
Many reputable websites list their sources, so you can see whether the claims are based on good evidence. They may also explain how they produce their information, or list other helpful websites where you can find more high-quality information.
3. When was it produced?
Check when the information was published or updated. Ideally, the information should have been produced or updated within the last three years. Medical science and research are always moving forward, and the advice can change quickly.
4. What do I understand now?
The information should be free from complex language and spelling mistakes. Providers of high-quality health information will do their best to break down the science and make it accessible.
Look beyond the news headlines
Popular news stories aren’t always scientifically accurate. Often, the headlines are designed to grab your attention. This sometimes means they’re written in a way that exaggerates the true figures. One of the most common tricks is to use what’s known as relative risk (how a risk increases or decreases) rather than the absolute numbers.
I’ll give you an example here to explain. A news headline reports that the risk of having a heart attack “trebles” if you eat chocolate twice a week (don’t worry, this is just a made-up example!). This might sound like a lot, but if you look at the actual figures, you’ll begin to see the bigger picture. It could be that:
- three out of 1,000 people who ate chocolate in the study had a heart attack
- one out of 1,000 people who didn’t eat chocolate had a heart attack
So, although it’s true that this equates to three times as many people, in real terms it’s only two more people out of 1,000. Perhaps a deeper look at the study would reveal other factors involved too.
For instance, the people who ate chocolate may have had a poorer diet generally, or were overweight. Suddenly the increased risk doesn’t seem so big, despite the shocking and attention-grabbing headline.
Beware of ‘cherry-picking’, too. This is when findings from certain studies are discussed without providing context from other research.
For example, one study might find that eating chocolate twice a week increases the risk of having a heart attack. But there may be 10 similar studies that showed no increase in risk. Cherry-picking results like this is misleading.
Check the ranges
Another common trick is to use the higher end of a range. So you might see something reported as “Increases your risk by up to four times!” The red flag here is the phrase ‘up to’. The actual study results might have shown your risk increases anywhere between two and four times.
Understanding numbers and statistics
You can see how important it is to look at the actual numbers, rather than just the headlines. But if statistics and numbers are not your strong point, this can seem very daunting.
If your brain shuts down at the sight of a percentage sign (%), just remember it means ‘out of 100’.
So, 20 per cent (%) of people means 20 out of every 100 people. That’s also the same as saying two out of 10. Watch out for news stories that use different proportions within the same article too, like two out of 10 and three out of 1,000. It can make it harder to compare.
When you’re dealing with lots of figures, it can help to think about actual numbers of people, and what this means in real life. The following rough scale may help.
- One in 10 = one person in your extended family
- One in 100 = one person in a street
- One in 1,000 = one person in a village
- One in 10,000 = one person in a small town
- One in 100,000 = one person in a large town
How reliable are the data?
It’s not just about understanding the numbers. You also need to consider how reliable the data is. First of all, read the story to find out whether it’s reporting on a published scientific study. If not, it could just be somebody’s opinion or initial findings that are yet to be reviewed.
Even if the numbers are from a published study, not all clinical studies are equally reliable. Questions to ask include the following.
- Is it an animal or a laboratory-based study? That doesn’t make it bad, it just means you can’t assume the results will be relevant to humans.
- Is it a very small study, with only a few people? These aren’t as reliable as big studies or reviews including hundreds or thousands of people. They might not reveal all potential safety issues, and findings are more likely to be exaggerated.
- Who’s sharing the study? Think about whether it’s someone who may be promoting a certain agenda. If they’re trying to promote something, there’s a chance that they’re only sharing the information they want you to read.
- Are the results ‘statistically significant’? This means that analysis of the results has shown that they aren’t just due to chance. If this is the case, it’s often reported alongside the results.
- Is this the first or only study to show a particular outcome? It may well be reported as ground-breaking new research. But experts never rely on a single study – especially if it goes against current advice – and neither should you.
Making your own judgement
Finally, it’s important to keep an open mind and think about how relevant or important the story is to you. Research shows that we’re more likely to believe the information we want to be true. So it’s important to think about whether your own opinions affect how you understand the information.
Try to put the findings into context of what else might be important too. For example, don’t look at a study reporting on the risk of vaccine side-effects in isolation. You also need to weigh it up against the risks of getting the disease it’s meant to prevent.
Most news stories will put a certain amount of ‘spin’ on the story to make it interesting. The author may frame results in a negative or positive light through the language they use.
A news story that refers to ‘concerning’ or ‘worrying’ data immediately puts a negative spin on the findings. On the other hand, an article claiming an ‘amazing breakthrough’ may give a false sense of hope.
Sometimes, faulty logic is used to make up for a lack of evidence and can make the information sound more believable. For example, if a food product is described as ‘healthy’ simply because it’s natural, this is not evidence-based.
Beware of articles that rely on extreme ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos or rely on one individual’s experience. These might not represent the experience of most people. Often, images and personal stories like these can cause a strong emotional response. They’re easier to relate to than numbers and statistics. This may make them seem more convincing. But they rarely give the whole picture.
Try to look past any unhelpful or unnecessary language and pull out the actual facts and relevant information. Then make your own judgment. Everyone sees risk differently, and what’s important to you may be very different to someone else.
Tips for reading health news stories
Here are my top tips for understanding health stories in the news.
- Be prepared to take a health news story with a pinch of salt – read it with a critical eye.
- Try not to be overwhelmed by the numbers. Think of percentages and statistics as actual numbers of people and what this means in ‘real life’.
- Don’t be taken in by attention-grabbing headlines. Look at the evidence. The actual numbers might be hidden away in the news story itself, or you might be able to look at the original research.
- How is the story reported elsewhere? It’s worth looking at a range of news sources for that particular story. You might find an expert or a relevant charity who has commented on the story and given their professional opinion.
- Draw your own conclusions and ignore any ‘spin’. Just because the author of the news story thinks the results are ‘shocking’ or ‘terrifying’ doesn’t mean you’ll agree!
- Think carefully before you share a news story on social media. And likewise, don’t believe everything you read in social media comments.
Other helpful websites
Following these steps can help protect yourself and others from harmful misinformation. The following resources may also be helpful:
- SHARE checklist – created by the UK Government, this checklist is a helpful guide for spotting false information online
- Sense about Science – a UK charity that challenges misinformation about science
- PIF TICK – the UK-wide quality mark for trusted health information, the Patient Information Forum (PIF) TICK identifies information that is evidence-based, accurate, and regularly reviewed
Are you interested in learning more about your health? Discover more about our range of health assessments.
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Sources Sources
- How to find reliable health information online. Patient. Patient.info, last updated December 2020
- How To Find Reliable Health Information Online. National Institute on Aging. nia.nih.gov, reviewed January 2023
- The PIF TICK. Patient Information Forum. pifonline.org.uk, accessed September 2024
- Common events and risks in anaesthesia. Royal College of Anaesthetists, September 2019
- Pilgrim C, Sanborn A, Malthouse E, et al. Confirmation bias emerges from an approximation to Bayesian reasoning. Cognition 2024;245:105693. DOI:10.1016/j.cognition.2023.105693
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