HEALTH LITERACY · CLAIM CHECK
Five questions before you trust a health claim
A quick check for social posts, headlines, advertisements and simplified summaries of research.
Who is making the claim?
Look for authorship, relevant expertise, conflicts of interest and accountability.
What evidence is provided?
A citation should lead to the actual source—not another article repeating the same statement.
Does the language match the study?
Watch for causal words used to describe observational research or conclusions that extend beyond the population studied.
Are uncertainty and limitations visible?
Reliable communication acknowledges what is not known and avoids guarantees, miracle language and universal promises.
TAKEAWAY
Pause before sharing: accuracy matters more than speed.
For education only. This resource does not replace individual clinical advice.