Health literacy and avoiding misinformation

Health literacy is the ability to find, understand, and use health information to make informed decisions. It’s not just about reading, it’s about confidence, critical thinking, and knowing where to look for good advice.

Low health literacy can make it harder for people to understand their choices, ask questions or feel prepared for healthcare appointments. It can also leave people more vulnerable to misinformation, especially online. This affects their ability to take part in shared decision‑making and to shape care around what matters to them, two key ideas of Realistic Medicine explained in the previous modules.

This module will explain:

the basics of health literacy
why public libraries are vital in helping people find clear, trustworthy health information that supports personalised care and confident decision‑making

Why health literacy is beneficial for Realistic Medicine?

What is health literacy?

Health literacy means having the skills to access, understand, and act on health information.

It is important for Realistic Medicine because it helps people take an active role in their care. When people understand health information, they can make choices that fit their needs, values, and life.

Why does it matter?

People with good health literacy are more likely to:

manage their health well
ask questions
make informed choices about their care

How health literacy supports Realistic Medicine?

It supports shared decision‑making

For decisions to be truly shared, both the person and the healthcare professional need to understand the options.

People with good health literacy can use tools like the BRAN questions (Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Doing Nothing). Instead of just agreeing, they can take part in the conversation and ask questions.

It supports personalised care

Realistic Medicine is about treating the whole person, not just the illness.

When people understand their health information, they can explain what matters to them. For example, they might say:
“I’ve read about this treatment, but I’m worried it will affect my daily life. Are there other options?”
This helps make sure care is right for them.

It helps reduces harm and waste

When people misunderstand medicines or health advice, it can lead to:

missed appointments
wasted prescriptions
unnecessary hospital visits

People with good health literacy are better at managing their health and knowing when they really need help. This helps the health system work better for everyone.

Challenges

Medical jargon, complex instructions, and digital barriers can make health information hard to understand.

How can you help someone who finds health information hard to understand?

Why health information can be hard to understand

Health information is often difficult to follow. Medical words and long instructions can be confusing and some people are not confident using digital tools.

Some people may feel embarrassed and not say they are struggling, even when they are.

Library staff can play an important role in supporting people who are finding health information hard to understand.

Signs someone may need extra support

You might notice clues in how a library user behaves.

How they use information

They avoid looking at a health leaflet or screen
They struggle to fill in health forms or use health apps
They use very old books or unreliable websites for advice

How they talk

They use medical words but seem unsure what they mean
They talk about “health secrets” or “quick fixes” from social media

How you can help?

If you notice these signs, here are some ways to support Realistic Medicine:

Support personalised care
Help them find information in Plain English or Easy Read.
You could say:
“Health leaflets can be hard to read. Let’s see if we can find something that explains this in a clearer way.”
Point them to trusted websites like NHS Inform, Right Decision Service apps or well‑known charities.
Support shared decision‑making
Show them the Being a partner in my care toolkit and the BRAN questions.
You could say:
“Appointments can be short. Many people find it helpful to write down these questions and take them along.”

The boundary between information and advice

The golden rule for library staff

Public libraries help people feel more confident about understanding health information. However, it is important to be clear that only a healthcare professional can give medical advice, diagnose conditions, or recommend treatment.

The role of the library is to help people find trusted, easy‑to‑understand information. This helps them have a better conversation with their healthcare professional.

To set clear boundaries, you could say:

“This information can help you think about your questions. Your healthcare professional is the right person to give medical advice and help you decide what’s best for you.”

Why misinformation is harmful for Realistic Medicine?

Misinformation can make it harder for people to get the right care. It affects two key elements of Realistic Medicine:

It makes shared decision‑making harder

Shared decisions only work when everyone is using accurate information.
If someone believes a myth, such as “vaccines don’t work” or “this drink cures cancer”, it is hard to have an open and honest conversation with a doctor or nurse.

It makes personalised care harder

Personalised care means finding what works best for each person.
If someone believes a false “quick fix” they saw online, they may turn down a treatment that was carefully chosen for their needs.

Why misinformation spreads?

False health information can spread through:

social media
unreliable websites
word of mouth

This can lead to worry, poor decisions, and loss of trust in healthcare.

The library’s role as a fact checking filter

Library staff can help people spot misinformation using some simple red flags.

Look out for information that:

tries to scare you - Headlines like “Your doctor is hiding this from you!”
promises a miracle cure - Claims to fix everything quickly with one simple trick
has no clear sources - Does not mention a real hospital, university, or study
is selling something - The “advice” is really an advert for a product or book

How to support a library user?

If someone brings in health information that may not be reliable:

be kind and respectful
Do not tell them they are wrong. You could say:
“That’s interesting. Let’s see what NHS inform says about this.”
use trusted sources
Help them look at reliable websites such as NHS inform, Right Decision Service apps or well‑known charities like Cancer Research UK or Macmillan.
encourage discussion with healthcare staff
Suggest they take the information to their doctor or nurse and ask:
“I read this online. What are the risks or alternatives compared to what you are suggesting?”

This helps people make decisions based on facts, not myths, and supports Realistic Medicine.

The golden rule for library staff

Library staff signpost to information, healthcare professionals provide clinical care and medical advice.

What's next?

Talking about health can be difficult. It can bring up strong feelings, make people uncomfortable, or remind them of past experiences.

As library staff, your role is to support people, not to give medical advice. Setting clear boundaries helps keep conversations safe, respectful, and comfortable for everyone.

In the next module, you will learn:

how to set clear boundaries when talking about health
how to signpost someone, avoiding giving advice
what is expected of library staff in the Realistic Medicine partnership
how to stay professional while supporting the public

This will help you feel confident in your role and understand where your responsibility starts and ends.