Social Affairs, Science and Technology

Honourable senators, today I rise to speak to Motion No. 113 regarding the authorization of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology to examine and report on the negative impact of health disinformation and misinformation on Canadian society and what effective measures can be implemented to counter this impact.

Earlier this year, Senator Kutcher highlighted the harmful consequences of health misinformation and disinformation, particularly in the context of COVID-19 and vaccinations. Today, I wish to illustrate the transformative, positive impacts that evidence-based health information can have on our lives.

Health information can come from a variety of sources. Health care providers play a vital role in sharing information about symptoms, diagnoses and treatments. While access to health care is a problem across the country, Canadians can easily access health information online. In fact, the internet has revolutionized access to information that was previously available to health care professionals almost exclusively.

When I was a medical student, I remember going to the medical library at the University of Manitoba to look up articles in important journals so I could learn about new investigation and treatment modalities. Now, almost all that information can be found on the internet.

The presence of online health mis- and disinformation is not new. The New England Journal of Medicine is widely recognized as the gold standard for current research and best practices in medicine. In 2016, the journal cautioned about:

. . . the challenges and dangers that the new media have created. On the Internet, speed and simplicity often displace depth and quality, especially on complex subjects. Our privacy is increasingly vulnerable. Misinformation, misrepresentation, and piracy are common. There are health scams and even sham medical conferences and fake medical journals. . . .

Honourable colleagues, despite the challenges and dangers of online health mis- and disinformation, today I want to share with you how online information can empower people to improve their health, as well as a few strategies to improve online health literacy.

First, let’s talk empowerment.

Obtaining information from online resources to mitigate information asymmetry is a vital component of patient empowerment. Access to accurate and evidence-based health information can empower people, resulting in positive outcomes such as enhanced self-efficacy, improved self-care and overall healthier well-being.

Well-informed individuals gain the confidence to actively collaborate with their health care providers and make informed decisions about their treatment options. A literature review on patient empowerment published in the National Library of Medicine indicated that well-informed individuals:

. . . develop a greater sense of self-efficacy regarding various disease and treatment-related behaviors, and express changes in life priorities and values . . . .

For example, in a study involving patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, perceptions of empowerment relatively influenced self-efficacy and self-care behaviours, consequently leading to improved outcomes.

Together, these findings highlight that access to one’s own health information and to reliable advice fosters patient awareness, boosts their confidence to advocate for themselves, bolsters their sense of control and encourages active engagement in their treatment decisions. Empowerment stands as a valuable tool in managing health conditions and supporting prevention and early intervention.

When recognizing the growing importance of computer-based health information technology for overall health and well-being, it is crucial to take health literacy into consideration. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasize the impact of health literacy on everyone, especially when dealing with unfamiliar medical terms or when interpreting statistics and evaluating risks and benefits.

While scientific literature often contains a wealth of evidence‑based information, it often includes terminology specific to researchers, scientists and health care providers, thus making it difficult to comprehend for the general public.

When addressing misinformation and disinformation by providing accurate information, it is essential that the information considers varying levels of health literacy.

So how to improve online health literacy?

In fall 2022, Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health shared lessons on how to counter health misinformation. The first lesson was to recognize the difference between misinformation and disinformation. They said:

Misinformation is information that is inaccurate or contrary to scientific consensus. Disinformation is a deliberate effort to knowingly circulate misinformation in order to gain money, power, or reputation. In cases of disinformation, the person disseminating falsehoods often stands to gain something, often a financial incentive.

A second lesson was that even seemingly scientifically accurate articles and health-focused technology can contain misinformation. While there are many trusted and credible scientific journals, there are some which are predatory, meaning they publish purely for monetary gain and don’t engage in the peer-review process which frequently results in the publishing of inaccurate information.

These predatory journals can be difficult to distinguish from trusted and credible scientific publications; for example, in the field of anaesthesiology, there are twice as many predatory journals as there are legitimate scientific journals, so it is important to consult multiple legitimate sources to corroborate information and ensure its reliability.

A third lesson was that interventions against online health misinformation can be effective and can take many forms. One strategy is countering mis- or disinformation through building credibility and with factual alternatives presented in a non‑judgmental manner. Another effective strategy is “prebunking,” or teaching people how they can be manipulated before they encounter online mis- or disinformation.

In closing, accurate and evidence-based health information brings a multitude of synergies that can benefit people, populations and the whole of society. Increased accessibility to health information can foster an environment that encourages self-care, enhances public health and takes us one step closer to achieving equal access to health care for all.

Thank you, meegwetch.