I was reading a few posts from my Nextdoor app when a neighbor asked for advice on a medical treatment she was considering. She had tinnitus (as I do). She had gone to a physician who tried to sell her on a medical device less than half the size of a smartphone. It plays some type of sound through wireless headphones. The device also has a wired output that sends electronic impulses to your tongue. The apparatus is supposed to rewire your brain, so you don’t notice the ringing in your ears. The therapy costs $5,000 and is not covered by insurance. Does that sound like something you would want to pay for? What if I told you the device is registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with approval to market. A neighbor told her not to waste her money. I felt the same way. Not everything that is sanctioned by the FDA is effective or a good deal. Some drugs are overpriced while cheaper drugs work just as well. Some drugs and medical treatments are barely more effective than a placebo. Indeed, some drugs depend on the placebo effect to work, and a more costly placebo seemingly works better than a cheap one.
This raises an important question. How do consumers and patients avoid misinformation, self-serving information and information touting ineffective, barely effective and placebo-powered treatments? This from Medical News Today:
In the age of viral content and fast and furious social media communication, disinformation and misinformation, including about health matters, are spreading more widely than ever. Why is this the case exactly, and how can we learn to spot inaccurate and even malicious health information?
Nowadays, thanks to the widespread availability of internet access, almost any piece of information we may want is just one click away. While this is generally a positive development, it can also mean that we become exposed to untrustworthy, unchecked information on any topic, including health.
There is a lot of bogus information out there and some have the stamp of approval (or registration) from the FDA. We’ve all seen commercials for new drugs with happy, healthy, smiling patients. If you see a drug commercial, just know the medication is expensive. Some medications are not as good as they’re made out to be. The same is true of invasive treatments. Many people with lower back pain get surgery even though physical therapy is often just as effective and always a better place to start than going under the knife. Overtreatment is not better than appropriate care. More care is not necessarily beneficial. My professor used to say, “if your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.”
I’ve touted the benefits of health information on the Internet to empower patients. Besides being a great way for doctors to communicate with patients, it’s also a great way for patients to make better health care decisions. However, it’s also a great way for charlatans to market snake oil. Here is the thing: hucksters often find they don’t get anywhere touting the conventional wisdom. Us patients can get conventional wisdom in many legitimate places. Hucksters must assert something outside the mainstream to be unique. They must set themselves apart in some way. Often what sets them apart is unsubstantiated claims and overly optimistic promises. It used to be that only motivated charlatans could afford to sell books and hold seminars. Now almost anyone can begin to create videos and slowly gain a following on social media. It’s only a small step from sound advice to creating bogus information that becomes a key to success for many, especially those without medical credentials. More from Medical News Today:
Misinformation occurs when communication is laden with inaccuracies, either because the original information was misinterpreted or misunderstood or because someone picked up a piece of erroneous information by mistake and kept sharing it.
Disinformation is an even more concerning phenomenon. It occurs when a bad actor disseminates fake information on purpose, manipulating their audience to support a hidden agenda.
There is a ton of bad health information on the Internet. Patients need to use common sense. WebMD, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic and many well-known health care systems provide accurate information. It still pays to be skeptical. Be careful of the people – doctors or otherwise – who promote easy but costly fixes. Always check any information with other sources. Ask questions. Ask friends and neighbors. You can even ask Microsoft Copilot.
Read more at: How to recognize health misinformation and disinformation