Global Perspectives on Health Information Quality and Trust

Sponsored by Springer Nature
Recorded on 06/16/2026

Posted in Scholarly Communication and Research

New research on global health literacy and what it means for curation, access, and information integrity.

Access the presentation slides.

Access Rachael’s paper, “A global survey on trust, digital health literacy and health information quality” on the Nature Health website and via the free-to-access version.

Summary:

Access to high-quality health information is a key determinant of health outcomes, making health communication and health literacy central concerns for librarians and information professionals. Nature Health, newly launched in January 2026, is prioritizing research in this space, emphasizing that effective health information must be scientifically sound, accessible, clear, and actionable, particularly for those supporting public, global, and population health research communities.  

This webinar will present findings from recent original research published in Nature Health, based on a large‑scale survey across 30 countries, exploring how people seek, evaluate, and trust health information. The results highlight global patterns in health and digital health literacy, showing that clarity, accessibility, and transparent sourcing are consistently valued. Healthcare providers emerge as the most trusted sources, while attitudes toward AI‑generated health information vary widely, pointing to evolving expectations and challenges in digital environments.  

For librarians and information specialists, the session offers an evidence‑based perspective on how users engage with health information in rapidly evolving digital ecosystems. Although not library‑specific, the session offers important insights for information professionals responsible for curation and access. It underscores the role of librarians in supporting health and digital literacy, reinforcing trust in authoritative sources, and navigating issues of information integrity as health information ecosystems become increasingly shaped by AI and personalized delivery.  

Speakers:

  • Image of Ben Johnson, PhD 

    Ben Johnson, PhD 

    Chief Editor Nature Health

    Ben Johnson is Chief Editor of Nature Health, a new journal of public, global and population health. Ben trained in infectious diseases, with an undergraduate degree in virology from the University of Warwick, UK, a PhD in influenza virus from Public Health England and the University of Reading, UK, and a postdoc on smallpox vaccines at Imperial College London. Ben has more than 15 years of experience in publishing, journalism, communications and engagement, including as an Associate Publisher at BMC, Head of Communities & Engagement at Springer Nature and Senior Magazine Editor at Nature Medicine, with responsibility for news and opinion content. He has a strong interest in research conducted in resource-limited settings, including in the global south, in how research influences health policy and in equitable strategies to involve patients and communities in research.   

  • Image of Rachael Piltch‑Loeb, PhD

    Rachael Piltch‑Loeb, PhD

    Assistant ProfessorCity University of New York

    Rachael Piltch‑Loeb, PhD, MSPH, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental, Occupational, and Geospatial Health Sciences at City University of New York. She is a public health researcher focused on emergency preparedness, response, and risk communication, with an emphasis on measuring and improving systems that protect populations during crises and effectively engaging communities. Her work spans infectious diseases, climate-related events, environmental hazards, and manmade disasters.

    Dr. Piltch‑Loeb has authored numerous publications on preparedness measurement, after-action reviews, community engagement, and misinformation. She is committed to translating research into practice and strengthening public health communication. She has served on expert committees for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the World Health Organization, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and is a founding member of the IRIS Academic Coalition and a contributor to Dear Pandemic. She also holds an appointment with the Emergency Preparedness Research Evaluation and Practice Program (EPREP) at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

All Choice webinars offer Zoom’s auto-generated AI captioning. If you have any questions, please contact: scofer@ala.org.

This webinar will be recorded. All registrants should receive a follow-up email with a link to the recording. Webinar recordings are also available on Choice’s YouTube channel.

This webinar is a paid sponsorship opportunity. The products, services and opinions presented herein do not constitute a CHOICE, ACRL, or ALA endorsement of any kind.

Unauthorized recording of any part of this event is strictly prohibited without prior written permission. This includes video or audio recording, chat or AI-generated transcriptions, and screenshots.

Related Posts