[Re: https://www.hifa.org/dgroups-rss/guardian-cancer-experts-warn-coffee-ene... ]
Well said, Neil. I totally agree. It is sad to see the efforts of those who want to provide evidence-based information, to inform and empower people to make choices about their own health, being undermined by misinformation, which is subsequently repeated without question. Identifying the problem and blaming those who perpetuate it is the easy part, but what is the solution?
Anyone who has a smartphone is now a potential broadcaster/influencer, and without thought, information can be circulated for whatever purpose the user feels justified. It worries me that material, once ‘out there’, could become the future reference point for other stories. With the use of artificial intelligence, that ‘embedded’ misinformation could perhaps begin to gain credence and authority due to overwhelming repetition.
If people had access to all positive and negative results of research, there would perhaps be less suspicion about what works and what doesn’t, ultimately educating people to question any claim, which lacks robust evidence.
HIFA profile: David Chandler has diverse experience, being involved in the UK voluntary sector since 1993. He has held the posts of coordinator of the Skin Care Campaign at the National Eczema Society, general manager at Teaching Aids at Low Cost, an international healthcare training and education NGO, Chief Executive of the Psoriasis Support Trust and also co-founded and jointly managed the Psoriatic Arthropathy Alliance with his wife Julie. During this time David has been a patient advocate, and given presentations on the patient perspective in Europe and the US, written and published articles, developed awareness campaigns and been involved in the development of both quantitative and qualitative research. David is currently Chief Executive of PAPAA - The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance a UK patient charity. Prior to moving into healthcare advocacy he worked in commercial business. David is also involved in other committees as expert patient and lay public representative, including the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Commission for Human Medicine (CHM)and INVOLVE at the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). David also has a keen interest in social inclusion and equality issues. davidchandler AT btconnect.com