The Rise of Misinformation in Holistic Health
Holistic health is a great way to emphasize how multiple aspects of life can affect a person’s overall health. Although many conditions still require medical intervention to improve a patient’s quality of life, giving attention to other life stressors could also help enhance their well-being. However, information on holistic health has made its way to social media, and it isn’t always correct.
An article published in The Journal of Medical Internet Research reveals that health misinformation is rampant on social media. More specifically, Twitter had the highest amount of misinformation, especially surrounding the topics of vaccines or drugs. YouTube was also a major issue for information on noncommunicable diseases and possible treatments.
This phenomenon is especially concerning when we consider who is at risk of believing these types of misinformation. Research published in Health Psychology found that patients with lower health literacy levels were more susceptible to health misinformation they read online. Additionally, a report from the Milken Institute reveals that only 12% of adults in the U.S. are “proficiently health literate.”
With so few patients in the U.S. in possession of the necessary health literacy skills to avoid misinformation, the journey to integrating holistic health can be a rocky one.
Who’s the Source?
When assisting patients who are interested in holistic health, you can share a few easy strategies that will help them separate fact from fiction.
Advise patients to analyze who authored the content. Is the source from the CDC or the Mayo Clinic? Or is it a Facebook page?
Content sharing medical information is also more likely to be credible if it shares peer-reviewed research. If it is in a blog format prioritizing anecdotal evidence with no links to credible outside sources, then the information is likely untrustworthy.
Other deceptive sources may try to attract readers with sensationalized headlines, especially those in similar formats to “Doctors HATE This Secret!” Note to patients that these headlines implying they will share a magical fix are another red flag.
Fact vs Fiction
Some patients may already have a few misconceptions about holistic health in mind, so it’s helpful to negate these when given the opportunity.
One such belief is that all herbal remedies are safe because they are natural. This isn’t the case as herbs can sometimes have adverse effects depending on the patient’s health condition or the type of medications they take. For example, St. John’s wort is noted to reduce the effectiveness of birth control and can lead to unplanned pregnancies. It can also nullify the effects of certain antidepressants.
Another common misconception is that essential oils can cure diseases. While they can provide some benefits, they do not offer cures. In some cases, they can bring about more complications. Essential oils may cause shortness of breath or coughing, especially in patients who already have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Some essential oils can even be poisonous in certain cases, or they can cause allergic reactions.
It’s great when patients find natural ways to support their health, but it’s critical for them to be able to separate truth from misconception for their own safety.
Holistic Health Done Right
Holistic health offers a valuable perspective on wellness. However, as patients seek alternative approaches to health, they can also encounter a flood of misinformation online. By encouraging health literacy and debunking common misconceptions, NPs can ensure that holistic health remains a beneficial addition to patient care rather than a health risk.
