Unreliable health information has been identified as a public health challenge. It may lead individuals to explore unproven and potentially harmful medical treatments1 or cause delays in seeking appropriate healthcare services.2

Determining the accuracy of health information is especially challenging in the digital age.3 These challenges were underscored by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, the WHO declared an ‘infodemic’ of misinformation and called for action to prevent the spread of false health information, particularly through social media and the internet.3

At the time, researchers at the University of Galway were producing evidence syntheses to inform COVID-19 policy and practice. Recognising the need to provide a similar quality of evidence to public audiences, they established iHealthFacts, an initiative to provide people living in Ireland with evidence-based information about health claims. iHealthFacts solicits questions from the public about health claims they encounter, conducts reviews of research evidence to answer these questions and presents the findings in an accessible way. These may include claims about the effects of health interventions, for example, treatments for diseases, diet, dietary supplements or exercise regimes. Initially, public enquiries were centred around COVID-19. Following the pandemic, the range of enquiries widened, notably with increased interest in traditional and complementary therapies.

The platform provides evidence-based responses to enquiries about health-related claims to support informed decision-making. It also endeavours to nurture critical thinking skills by introducing some of the scientific principles that underpin iHealthFacts’ assessments of each claim.

The iHealthFacts team includes two public and patient involvement (PPI) representatives. These individuals review and refine internal processes and advise on the communication strategy for iHealthFacts with public audiences. Their input significantly influences how information is curated and disseminated, helping to ensure its resonance with the public. Our PPI partners also bring lived experience …