Health Insurance Values » HealthLog with Dave Keller

Are you hearing the whole story?

Take your health news with a dose of critical analysis

Don’t you love it when the media reports that some crazy diet has become wildly popular or that study findings show coffee is good for your health? If you are anything like me, you momentarily consider drinking nothing but espresso or eating only carrots and then you ask yourself, “great, but what about x, y and z?”

Sometimes the news leaves you with more questions than information, especially when it is delivered via a time-crunched television format or brief Web posting. I recently came across this MinnPost commentary from Susan Perry. She shares that frustration and talks about a site called HealthNewsReview, which rates medical journalism.

When it comes to media, we are all consumers. And as such, we should expect value for the currency of our time. Just because a health expert says something in a popular publication, Web site or TV show doesn’t make it entirely reliable or unbiased. I want to remind you that whether you are following a health trend or catching up on the latest health reform news, you should approach the information with a healthy dose of skepticism.

When you turn to Web sites, click on the “About” section to explore who is behind the Web site and what their bias might be.

Consider the various viewpoints, drawbacks and benefits of a study, product or piece of legislation. Are all of them represented?

What are the “tough” questions? Have then been addressed?

Taking the time to critically analyze Web sites, written articles and television news will enhance your understanding and make you a more educated media consumer. Because, at the end of the day, we all know if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.