The Informed Health Consumer: Making Sense of Evidence

Cardiff University are launching a free online course in partnership with Future Learn which will help people understand the reliability of health evidence.

Every day we read or hear about new health research that looks at what might help or harm, limit or extend our lives. Health research is big business and over a million papers are now published annually on health-related topics. So how do we find the evidence we need and, much more important, how do we judge how good that evidence is?

The issues raised in the course are examined in a series of weekly case studies which provide a framework to discuss wider issues with health research. Topics include the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine, severe hyperemesis gravidarum (pregnancy-related vomiting) and the impact of dehydration on our ability to function.

The team of educators on the course come from a range of disciplines, including health, social sciences and journalism, and teach courses at all levels on how to understand research and use it effectively.

The only requirement for taking part on this course is having an interest in the topic. So if you want to understand why not all evidence is good evidence, and to learn how to tell the difference between good and bad, this course is for you.

For more information or to sign up please click here.