Health Information Week - Health Literacy and Misinformation

This week is Health Information Week, a week dedicated to promoting accessible, reliable health information to the public. The campaign runs each year, and there is a dedicated theme for each day.

If you’d like to get involved and show your support for the campaign, head over to Health Information Week resources webpage, which has all the information you need alongside downloadable graphics for social media.

This year’s campaign themes are ‘Winter Health’, ‘Mental Health’​, ‘Wellbeing’, ‘Health Literacy and Misinformation’ and ‘Digital Literacy’.

The Psoriasis Association will be getting involved and attending a webinar exploring how to tackle health misinformation and increase our understanding of health literacy.

What is Health Literacy?

Health literacy is a person’s ability to read, understand and use health information to make informed decisions about their health.

For someone living with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis a good level of health literacy is helpful in understanding the best treatment options available to you, managing symptoms and using treatments safely and as administered.

What is Health Misinformation?

Misinformation is information that is inaccurate, out-of-date, false or misleading. Health misinformation can lead to someone trying treatments or engaging in activities that can be potentially damaging to their health.

Unfortunately, with so much information readily available online, and dishonest claims of ‘miracle cures’ there is a chance that someone living with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis may become subject to health misinformation.

PIF Tick Accreditation

At The Psoriasis Association, we are dedicated to providing high quality, reliable and up-to-date information. We are extremely pleased to hold The PIF TICK accreditation - the only UK quality mark for trustworthy health information.

All our information is PIF Tick accredited annually, ensuring that we can provide the latest, accurate information.

Resources with the green logo have been PIF Tick accredited.

You can visit the PIF TICK website for a wide range of free resources including one-page posters, guides on false health information warning signs and what to look for in trusted health information.

You may also wish to read our article on medical misinformation: spot the fake news.