The perils of misinformation: when health literacy goes awry

Growing patient empowerment and the deluge of health information and misinformation have highlighted the importance of health literacy. Unfortunately, public information and literacy programmes often fail to counter the effect of misinformation. Successfully countering misinformation presents distinctive challenges beyond patient education, and may require trust built on collaborative patient-clinician relationships.

Automated summary

The importance of health literacy has become increasingly apparent in light of growing patient empowerment and the abundance of health information and misinformation. However, public information and literacy programs often fail to counter the impact of misinformation. Successfully countering misinformation requires trust built on collaborative patient-clinician relationships.