TRUST Test

Health information is everywhere. But when advice is shared online, taken out of context or presented without evidence, it can be difficult to know what to trust.

Every day, we are exposed to a huge amount of health information. We see it on social media, hear it on podcasts, read it in news articles and receive it from friends and family.

Some of that information is helpful and evidence-based. Some of it is misleading, oversimplified or lacking important context. And some claims can sound convincing even when they are not supported by good-quality evidence.

This matters because the information we trust can influence the choices we make about our health.

Navigating health information

At World Cancer Research Fund, we know that navigating health information can be challenging. For decades, we have reviewed and analysed the global evidence on diet, nutrition, physical activity and cancer so that we can bring to you health information that you can trust when it comes to cancer prevention.

But we know how confusing health information can sometimes feel, particularly when different messages compete for attention online.

That’s why we developed the TRUST Test.

The TRUST Test won’t tell you what to think. Instead, it helps you ask the right questions and approach health information more critically.

Whether you’re reading about supplements, nutrition, cancer prevention or general wellbeing, taking a moment to use the TRUST Test can help you make more informed decisions and avoid being misled by claims that sound convincing but aren’t supported by evidence.

The TRUST Test is a simple way to pause before acting on or sharing a health claim, and can be used by the public and health professionals:

• T – Too good to be true?
• R – Research-backed?
• U – Understood?
• S – Source quality?
• T – Think before you share