Around half of adults in the UK struggle to access trusted health information, according to a new report.
The study, published by the Patient Information Forum (PIF) and Ipsos, called Knowledge is Power, found that 53% of people felt they could trust the health information they found offline, with 45% saying they could trust the information found online.
But, eight in 10 adults with a long-term condition agreed that access to trusted health information would help them to manage their health better.
A further one in 10 adults said they had been affected by misinformation, which rose to one in five for ethnic minorities, according to the study, which surveyed 2,003 adults between May and June 2024.
One in six respondents said they did not feel listened to by their healthcare professional, rising to one in four for ethnic minorities.
The report made several recommendations on the right to health information, including to make health information accessible and appropriate for all and to ensure that misinformation is tackled (see box for full list).
Report recommendations
- A right to health information – health information is provided as a core part of patient care.
- Tackle misinformation – through robust content standards and effective signposting of credible health information via health professionals and the NHS Apps.
- Tackle inequality – health information must be accessible and appropriate for all.
- Lived experience as a metric – embedding patient experience as a measure of NHS performance using the NHS Apps and single patient record.
- Dedicated leadership – a mandate for the effective delivery of health information with a named lead in all NHS organisations.
Melissa Moodley, UK head of healthcare research at Ipsos, said: ‘This timely research reveals a critical gap in access to trustworthy health information, with half of UK adults struggling to find reliable sources.
‘This challenge is particularly acute for those with long-term conditions and minority groups. The impact is clear: 8 in 10 adults believe better access to credible health information would improve their health management.
‘These findings underscore the urgent need to improve the provision of verified, accessible health information. Doing so is not just beneficial, but essential for enhancing overall health outcomes across the UK.’
Sue Farrington, chair of PIF, added: ‘Credible information supports people’s health decisions, from childhood vaccinations to joint replacement surgery. For people with long term conditions, it is a core element of care.
‘Resolving these issues will ensure everyone gets the information they need, supporting the prevention agenda and contributing to the delivery of positive health outcomes for all.’
It comes as 1,400 libraries are now helping patients access the NHS App.
