Health Literacy: Empowering People & Fighting Misinformation

It wasn’t too long ago when people relied solely on their family doctor for any kind of health information and advice. Thanks to the internet and social media, we have access to all kinds of health information at our fingertips. With access to unlimited amounts of information comes the need to strengthen our health literacy so that we can filter through the misinformation and make the best, informed decisions about our health.

Healthy People 2030, a collaborative health promotion and disease prevention effort with a vision towards a healthier nation, defines health literacy as “the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.” Having strong health literacy skills goes beyond understanding what information is being presented; it also means being able to identify reliable sources and having the ability to apply what you’ve found to make informed decisions about your health.

Ways to Improve Your Own Health Literacy

• Bring a trusted family member or friend to appointments who can listen and help.
• Ask for translation services or multilingual providers to remove any language barriers.
• Ask for explanations and health information in plain language, without the medical jargon.
• Have a plan for every appointment so you know what to talk about, what questions you have, and what you want to achieve.
• Remember that it’s ok to say, “I don’t understand” and ask for more information.
• Use health education and care navigation resources available to you through your health plan or healthcare provider.
• Stick to credible resources for information, like healthcare organizations, government agencies, and reputable medical journals that do not have a conflict of interest.
• Think critically about where you’re seeing this information, and the sources and citations used to back up their claims.

Poor Health Literacy and Misinformation

At some point in all our lives, we’ve all fallen for health misinformation, like believing harmless myths about gum not digesting for 7 years if we swallow it or cracking your knuckles causing arthritis. While a lot of health misinformation is relatively harmless, it can have serious and far-reaching negative effects on our own health and the health of our communities. In 2020, as COVID-19 infection rates rose, Meta removed over 7 million pieces of harmful health misinformation from Facebook alone. Misinformation is fueled by poor health literacy skills and spreads quickly through social media. It can be overwhelming, trying to sort through what is reliable, what is helpful, and what is harmful, but there are things you can do to protect yourself and your community from health misinformation.

How to Spot Misinformation Red Flags

• Check the Source: Where does the information come from? Is it from a reputable health or science organization, or a content creator?
• Look for evidence: Are the claims backed by peer-reviewed research, do the statistics and charts make sense? Be sure to avoid “miracle claims.”
• Watch for Emotional Triggers: Are they trying to scare you or make you angry, so you feel the urgent need to act or believe them?
• Beware of Anecdotes over Facts: While personal stories are helpful, they are not proof and can often be made up or have missing details that prove harmful.
• Check the Date: Old, outdated information can be misleading or inaccurate, so check to see when it was posted or written.
• Think Before You Click!

Having strong health literacy skills is empowering, allowing us to achieve our best health and to protect the health of our communities.

About Florida Health Care Plans

Founded in 1974, Florida Health Care Plans (FHCP) is a pioneering provider of health insurance plans and comprehensive healthcare services, available to individuals, families, employer groups, and Medicare-eligible individuals. Headquartered in Daytona Beach, FHCP serves more than 105,000 members throughout Brevard, Flagler, St. Johns, Seminole, and Volusia Counties.

An affiliate of Florida Blue and part of the GuideWell family of health solutions companies, FHCP offers access to a provider network of more than 9,500 doctors, specialists, and hospitals. FHCP also provides integrated care services at its community-based facilities, including primary and multi-specialty care, radiology, ultrasound, laboratory, in-house pharmacies, as well as extended hours and Ambulatory Surgery Center services. FHCP is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

For additional information, visit www.FHCP.com. For the latest news and content, visit the FHCP Newsroom and follow FHCP on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram @floridahealthcareplans, and X (formerly Twitter) @myFHCP.