Health Information Week
3 July, 2023 (All day) to 9 July, 2023 (All day)
Health Information Week is a national, multi-sector campaign promoting high-quality information for patients and the public.
High quality health information can have a huge impact on people’s ability to stay healthy and manage illnesses effectively, giving them a better quality of life.
The themes for 2023 are:
- Monday 3 July – Health Literacy
- Tuesday 4 July – Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Wednesday 5 July – Women’s Health
- Thursday 6 July – Social Prescribing
- Friday 7 July – Children's Health
- Saturday 8 July – Cost of Living
- Sunday 9 July – Shared Decision Making
What to ask
There are a few simple questions you can ask yourself when looking at health information:
- Where did the information come from? Who produced it? Was it the NHS or a trusted charity or health organisation? Is the information relevant to the UK?
- How current is the information? When was it published or last updated? Health information changes over time – make sure it is up to date.
- Is it easy to use and understand?
- Is is based on multiple evidence reviews or case studies? Look for clear references.
- Why has it been produced? Is it to inform or is there an agenda? Is the website profit driven?
It it is also a good idea to cross-check information. This means looking to see if it is repeated by more than one reliable source.
