2017 MLA Annual Conference

Can I go back to eating bacon? Will going gluten-free fight the blues? Will my doctor approve of my daily consumption of dark chocolate? Health news reported in the headlines of newspapers, magazines, television, radio shows, and social media can sow confusion, bringing your library patrons in with questions. Learn how to critically evaluate health information portrayed in the media in order to determine whether headlines accurately communicate the results of the science. During this session, participants will delve into the scientific research behind health headlines, learning the difference between scientific studies, the role of bias, and gaining an understanding of key concepts of statistics relating to risk. This session will provide participants with the know-how to help patrons look more critically at health issues reported in the media and will identify reliable sources of health news available through the National Library of Medicine.