This report is focused on the shift from Analogue to Digital - one aspect of the NHS’s ‘Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England’.
This report uses data from a survey conducted on 13-25 year olds from across England, with questions around four key areas:
- Sources and formats of health information used
- Trust in sources of health information and what would increase this
- Likelihood to follow advice from and actions taken based on sources of health information
- Factors influencing engagement with health influencers
Official NHS sources including the website and app were the most used and trusted, as well as healthcare professionals, and young people were most likely to follow health advice from these. Young people trusted health information more when it came from either a government/NHS source or a qualified individual, and were less skeptical of evidence-based media. Most young people had taken action based on health information online. Examples of this included researching symptoms and lived experiences of conditions and seeking further medical advice; specifically, changes in diet and exercise and purchasing supplements.
Public health communication and education strategies should be adapted to align with young people’s use of the digital world. Strengthening inclusive research practices, expanding the NHS’s credible presence on social media, and improving digital literacy education are essential steps to ensure young people can access, trust, and critically evaluate accurate health information online.