Knox County Tennessee

Webidemic – Don’t get caught up in online misinformation

The internet is chock-full of information, especially health information. Most of us have used it to search for health advice or to address concerns we may have for ourselves or our families. And, while there is credible, helpful information, there’s also a lot of misleading, inaccurate information. After all, it’s not as if the internet is checked for accuracy or quality. So, how do you tell the difference? How do you know what’s good, quality information about something as important as your health?

We frequently get questions from the public about this, so we’ve created this guide to help you navigate the massive world of online health information. While this guide won’t make you an expert (lots of folks go to school for a long time to learn how to evaluate and study medical information and make health recommendations), it will give you tips on how to weed through the junk. With that said, it’s still important to always talk with your health care provider before making any major health changes.

We’ve also included some excellent free and local resources that can help you find quality information. We hope you find all this helpful, and we welcome any questions or suggestions you may have. You can reach us by clicking here.



The bottom line

Since it’s not likely misinformation will vanish from the internet anytime soon, one important step in combating it is developing a healthy sense of skepticism. Be aware that misinformation flourishes online and in social media, so look for trusted sources and be aware of your own biases. But most importantly, talk to your health care provider before making any major changes that can affect your health.


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health emergency?

Call 865-215-5093

Have Questions? Call: (865) 215-5555 Email: Health@knoxcounty.org

On the first Wednesday of every month, all KCHD offices and clinics are closed in the morning for staff in-service. On these days, the main location (140 Dameron Ave.) will open at 11 a.m. and the West Clinic (1028 Old Cedar Bluff) will open at 11:30 a.m.

Clinics will also open at 10:30 a.m. (Main location) and 11 a.m. (West Clinic) on the following Wednesdays: April 17 and July 17. All other offices will open at 8 a.m.