Holding page for IHC Essays

The Informed Health Choices Essays complement the Explanatory Essays by focusing on the use of information from fair tests of treatments to inform decisions.

0) Introduction to the Informed Health Choices Essays

1) Avoid being misled by claims that have an untrustworthy basis.

• 1.1 Assumptions that treatments are safe or effective can be misleading.
• 1.2 Seemingly logical assumptions about research can be misleading.
• 1.3 Seemingly logical assumptions about treatments can be misleading.
• 1.4 Trust based on the source of a claim alone can be misleading.

2) Consider whether evidence from comparisons is trustworthy.

• 2.1 Comparisons of treatments should be fair.
• 2.2 Reviews of the effects of treatments should be fair.
• 2.3 Descriptions of effects should clearly reflect the size of the effects.
• 2.4 Descriptions of effects should reflect the risk of being misled by the play of chance.

3) Make well-informed choices.

• 3.1 Evidence should be relevant.
• 3.2 Expected advantages should outweigh expected disadvantages.