Nearly half of patient-facing NHS staff (44%) say patients bring them inaccurate or misleading nutrition or supplement information at least once a week, according to new analysis from World Cancer Research Fund.
The charity’s research also reveals a growing mismatch between confidence and understanding among the public, with people who rely on social media for news more likely to feel confident about finding trustworthy nutrition information online, while also being more likely overall to believe misleading claims about diet, supplements and cancer prevention.
World Cancer Research Fund says the findings highlight the current pressure on healthcare professionals, while confusion online is making it harder for people to make informed choices about their health.
In response, the charity is calling on the UK Government to use the NHS Workforce Plan to strengthen support for evidence-based advice on cancer prevention, nutrition and physical activity. It is also launching a simple new TRUST Test to help the public and healthcare professionals spot health misinformation online.
Visit: https://www.wcrf.org/living-well/health-guides-cookbooks/trust-test/