Getting informed today is easy but at the same time you feel a bit lost in the amount of information available, especially on the net. It therefore becomes essential to know how to select safe and institutional sources that guarantee that the contents are scientifically controlled and validated.
First of all, in front of a content it is always good to check the author and understand to which date the information refers. At the same time it is good to make sure that any sources cited have been reported correctly and not by taking just a few sentences from a more general context.
We also suggest the following points of attention.
10 TIPS FOR CORRECT INFORMATION:
The websites of institutional bodies are updated with information controlled, consolidated and based on scientific literature: for example, the Ministry of Health, the Lombardy Region, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità.
When scientific articles are cited, it is advisable to look for others on the same theme, to understand if the cited article is unique in its kind or if it is actually a theme taken up and confirmed by other sources.
Verify that scientific theories are confirmed by several parties: the large number of experts confirming a theory guarantees that a valid discussion on the subject is underway and that independent analyzes are carried out from multiple sources.
It is essential to know the date of publication of scientific articles since the older ones may have already been refuted by others and therefore be obsolete.
Verify the possible existence of interests on the part of the authors of the articles with respect to the thesis supported (funding, conflicts of interest, etc …).
In the presence of claims on the efficacy / non-efficacy of the vaccines, the methods by which the conclusions were drawn must be identifiable.
Personal experiences of individuals can be the basis for formulating hypotheses. The theses that derive from it must however be validated by studies and insights and it is good not to come to hasty conclusions.
It must make us suspect the use of an emotional narrative linked to personal experiences, not supported by adequate scientific correlations.
Pay attention to how data and statistics are proposed: if it is not customary to use these tools applied to vaccines or healthcare in general, it is easy to fall into error. For this reason, the institutional sites translate the statistics into clear and simple indications for everyone to read
If a content arouses interest but also doubts, it is important to discuss with professionals who can give indications, clarifications and reassurances if necessary (Family Pediatricians, General Practitioners, ATS experts).