How to Spot Reliable Health Information: A Guide to Evaluating Online Medical Claims and Avoiding Misinformation

Clients no longer just describe their symptoms, they arrive with screenshots of dense articles, AI chatbot information and the phrase ‘I’ve done my research’

Ben* sat across from me, explaining how his low motivation, lethargy and trouble sleeping seemed like depression from content he had seen online. I made a recommendation to get his bloodwork done with his GP, who advised that Ben was low in vitamin D and iron, which can mimic depressive symptoms. Under the care of his GP, Ben’s symptoms quickly resolved without requiring further psychological intervention

Thuy* made an appointment with me, armed with information and old school and university records after her colleague was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. After going through the assessment process, I diagnosed her with inattentive ADHD, a commonly underdiagnosed condition among women and girls. Thuy was relieved and felt as though her life finally made sense to her, after years of assuming she was “just lazy”.

What is the study design? Is it a controlled trial or a single-case report? Locate it on the evidence hierarchy.

Who was studied? Did the research include people like yourself in age, gender, health status or ethnicity? A study on 20-year-old athletes may not apply to a 60-year-old with a chronic condition.

Who is behind it? Check the funding source and author affiliations. Is it published in a reputable, peer-reviewed journal? Be warned: the peer-review system itself is under assault from AI-generated “slop papers” – fake studies churned out to pad academic CVs – making vigilance even more paramount.

What are the numbers? How many participants were involved? Are the results statistically significant and do the authors openly discuss the study’s limitations?

What is the consensus? Is this a lone finding or does it align with the broader body of evidence? What do other independent experts in the field say?