Latest news with #healthinformation
New York Times
22-07-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Have You Tried Alternative Health Treatments?
As a health reporter at The Times, part of my job is to understand where people get their health information. That includes TikTok, friends and family, podcasts and other sources outside the traditional health care system. I'm eager to understand how information from those sources might influence people's health care decisions. In particular, I want to learn what drives people to consider alternative treatments that doctors don't typically recommend for a given health issue. These might include supplements, detox diets, experimental treatments such as certain stem cell therapies or off-label uses of prescription medications. If you or someone close to you has tried a treatment like this, I want to hear from you. How did you or that person hear about it? What made it appealing? What was the outcome? I'll read all of the submissions and may reach out for more information. No part of your submission will be published until after we've reached out to you and heard back. We won't share your contact information outside of the newsroom or use it for any reason other than reporting.
RNZ News
17-07-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Tonga's health system 'fully restored' after cyber attack with Australia's help
Tonga's Health Minister Dr ʻAna ʻAkauʻola said that the system has been fully restored. Photo: 123RF Problems resulting from a cyber attack on Tonga's Health Information System appear to have been resolved. The assault on the system a month ago led to a demand by the hackers for a ransom of one million dollars. RNZ Pacific Tonga correspondent Kalafi Moala updated us about the latest developments. (This transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.) KALAFI MOALA: The system was hacked, the health information system, and they asked for payment of a million dollars to have the system back. The government or the Ministry of Health refused to make any payments. In the meantime, they called for help to Australia, who sent their expertise to help them out. The way the Minister of Health (Dr ʻAna ʻAkauʻola) described it was that it was within 48 hours they were able to call for help, and immediately there was a response. And it was very, very key in helping them restore the system. DON WISEMAN: The presumption has always been that these villains located overseas. Do we know any more about that? KM: No, there's nothing that has been revealed, or at least that has been disclosed from the ministry, other than the fact that they're from overseas. They couldn't put a face to them. In other words, they were not any individuals, just that there was a group that did that. But the talk, of course, the guesses in town is that probably there's a group overseas that had local connections that did the hacking. DW: The Australians have left. Have they left a system in place that's stronger than it was before they made that announcement? KM: The Minister of Health made that announcement yesterday (Wednesday), saying that the system has been fully restored. She used the term, saying there's still some gaps, but they're back into it. I think with the restoration of the system, they also have had a backup, so that if this thing happens again, they've got a backup to the information system. DW: Tongans who had health issues, or have health issues, had been told that they needed to take what information they had. Hand written, I guess, information they had to take into appointments, outpatient appointments and so on. That's not still happening? KM: Well, no, that's not happening. But they were basically responding to the shock that came from people saying, what's going to happen to us now if we're going to go in when some of the patients don't even know the kind of records they get. For example, things that they are allergic to, the kind of medication and its details that they were given. So, the restoration of the system really recovers all of that without having the patient to be able to come into the hospital and and try to bring up all that information. I think it's really good, and it's returned to what it was. DW: I guess the officials and health are very concerned about things and so with the government. But to what extent did it bother the people? KM: Well, it really was a scare for people. Look, the immediate response was, what does this mean for me? The thing is, a patient, 'I've got my own personal information in somebody else's hands, who's a criminal who not only stole it, but basically are demanding money for the returning of that information. But one of the issues is that Tonga is turning to become digital in so many of its services, like you go to apply now for birth certificate, marriage certificate, and all those things are being now, including visas, being now done digitally. And so that transition, it means that all the government systems are going to be digital. This hacking that took place, it's like a warning that we need to be careful in what we're doing, and we need to have backup systems, and that security is so important as Tonga is becoming more digital in its government services.
RNZ News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Pacific news in brief for 16 July
Tonga's Health Minister Dr ʻAna ʻAkauʻola said that the system has been fully restored. Photo: 123RF Tonga's National Health Information System - hacked three weeks ago in a cyber attack - is now back in action. Health Minister Dr ʻAna ʻAkauʻola said that the system has been fully restored. Australia sent a Cyber Rapid Response team to recover the system but they've now returned home. Dr ʻAkauʻola said health staff and Tonga's computer emergency response team have been working to get all patient data secured. So far, only four patient records have appeared on the dark web. Earlier reports said the hackers had demanded a US$1 million ransom, which the government refused to pay. Samoa's caretaker Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa has officially launched her new party's election manifesto. Fiame told supporters that Samoa Uniting Party (SUP) has risen from the ashes of her former FAST Party. She says SUP has been formed in response to political turmoil and internal divisions. Local media reports the lineup includes three women and 23 men, most of whom are current caretaker ministers. Notable absentees from the party's ticket are caretaker ministers Mauʻu Siaosi Puʻepuʻemai and Seuula Ioane Tuāʻau. Mauʻu has opted to run as an independent, while Seuula will not contest this election. Despite running independently, Mauʻu was seen at the SUP manifesto launch, raising questions about potential post-election alignments. Observers say his future support could be pivotal. Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says his vision for a peaceful and secure Pacific region is under threat. Rabuka told the Pacific Regional and National Security Conference that his 'Ocean of Peace' project cannot come to be in the current geopolitical environment. He said security in the region must be taken seriously. The conference brings together leaders from across the Pacific, with climate change, unregulated fishing, and organised crime on the agenda. Vanuatu's Climate Minister Ralph Regenvanu believes the decision from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will be a turning point for climate justice. The decision from the ICJ on countries responsibilities for climate change is due next week. Vanuatu and Pacific climate advocates brought the case to the UN in 2023 seeking an opinion from the world court on the legal obligations of states in relation to climate change. Regenvanu said that he is anticipating to see a clear recognition that climate inaction is unlawful. The government of Nauru has appointed Australian Brian Phelps as chief executive of its new Virtual Asset Authority. Legislation has already been passed to regulate virtual assets in the hopes one of the smallest countries in the world will become a crypto hub. Nauru President David Adeang said Phelps' vast experience will ensure the Command Ridge Virtual Asset Authority (CRVAA) will meet the government's goal of attracting businesses that bring investment, job creation, and financial innovation to the nation. The Nauru government said that Phelps has worked extensively with regulators, industry bodies and government, and served for 21 years at CommSec, Australia's largest online stockbroking firm and subsidiary of the Commonwealth Bank. The New Zealand auditor-general John Ryan has highlighted recurring challenges in the latest audit report of the Niue government. Ryan told local media that while there have been recent improvements, Niue still faces issues in terms of capability and capacity to prepare financial statements for annual audits. After many years of delays, the government's audit reports are finally up to date with the help of Deloitte New Zealand. Ryan said it is critical Niue remains up to date, as failing behind again could lead to significant costs. A candidate contesting the Northern Marianas' US House of Representatives seat has expressed concern about the impact President Donald Trump's "big beautiful bill" will have on the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The bill was passed on 4 July. Galvin Deleon Guerrero told Marianas Press he applauds the effort to stimulate economic investments through tax exempts, tax breaks and supporting small businesses. However, he said the cuts to programmes and the silence on specific provisions that benefit the CNMI concerned him.
RNZ News
16-07-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Back to the future for Tonga's Health Data
Pacific crime 5 minutes ago Problems resulting from a cyber attack on Tonga's Health Information System look to have been resolved.
Medical News Today
01-07-2025
- Health
- Medical News Today
How to find reliable sources of health information
Reliable health information online uses high quality, recent, peer-reviewed research. People should look for balanced information and site transparency and avoid websites that use sensationalism or fear to balanced, credible, and inclusive health content from reliable sources allows people to make informed decisions about their health. This may also help people feel more confident going into discussions with their healthcare misinformation online can be challenging due to the sheer amount of contradictory information available. Misinformation is false or misleading information that may deliberately aim to deceive is no single way to confirm a site's reliability. However, the following tips and advice can help a person evaluate an online source's health information onlinePeople can assess the website, the content itself, and the sourcing of health content online to ensure they are reading reliable website itselfReliable sources of health information will be transparent about their intentions, ownership, and contact information. They may have an 'about us' section outlining their that are trying to sell a product or service may be less reliable than websites that aim to explain or inform people. This is because they may favor the product or service they want to sell rather than offering a balanced at a website's privacy policy and how they use personal information can also indicate their reliability. The National Institute on Aging suggests that looking at a website's URL or web address may be helpful to identify the type of source it is:government agency URLs end in .goveducational institute URLs end in .edunonprofit organization URLs typically end in .orgpersonal blogs and commercial website URLs may end in .comThe URL does not guarantee whether all information on the site is reliable, but it may be a good place to contentReliable health content will be balanced, inclusive, and supported by high quality research. People should try to avoid content that uses the following:Sensationalism: Sensationalized content may use shocking and exciting language to catch a reader's attention rather than prioritizing accurate, balanced tactics: A website may use misleading or exaggerated content to scare people and persuade them to believe a particular bias: Sites may use language or limited research that only supports a certain perspective rather than offering balanced information and allowing the reader to and review processesReliable sources of health information will have evidence of research. This may be in the form of in-line citations or a source list that links to high quality studies and reviews that support or match the content's may also be a good idea to look at who wrote the content and their experience, if possible. Reliable sources will be transparent about when the content was written or updated and their review process. A recent review by a healthcare professional with expertise in the subject can be a good indicator of the content's quality. Medical research is constantly changing. Reliable sources of health information will carry out regular reviews to reflect Medical News Today a reliable site?Creating trustworthy content is at the core of MNT's mission. We prioritize up-to-date, in-depth health information to provide readers with a deeper understanding of their are some ways MNT works to create trustworthy, accurate, and reliable content:An established editorial processMedical News Today uses an established editorial process that focuses on the following four pillars in all of our content:learning and maintaining trusthigh journalistic standardsprioritizing accuracy, empathy, and inclusioncontinually monitoring and updating contentRead more about MNT's editorial evidence-based, medically accurate contentMNT's Medical Affairs team consists of a diverse group of healthcare professionals from all corners of the healthcare industry. As well as evaluating the medical accuracy of our content before publication, the Medical Affairs team stays up to date with the latest advances in healthcare to provide readers with the most accurate, reliable information. Read more about MNT's Medical Affairs diversity and inclusionMNT is committed to amplifying and engaging with diverse voices when researching health information and creating content. We use conscious language to promote inclusion and equity when helping people understand their more about MNT's approach to content media and advocacy groupsHealth information on social media sites is often brief, which can make it harder to evaluate its reliability. However, it is a good idea to look for the same markers of reliability as any other website. For example:Is the content promoting something or earning the creator money?Is the creator transparent about any funding they receive?Does the creator provide any sources to support their claims?Does the creator have any proven healthcare credentials?Does the content use shocking or exaggerated language?Does the content offer a balanced view?If social media content involves a personal testimony or anecdote, it is important to remember that this is only one case. It does not guarantee that every person with the same health issue or situation will have the same groupsAdvocacy groups involve people with similar experiences. They may hope to promote a certain health issue or simply support one can create an advocacy group. Because they tend to focus on a single health topic or condition, there may also be a risk of bias. People can look for the same signs of reliability listed above when using content on advocacy group websites.»Learn more:How to advocate for yourself at the doctor's officeFinding and understanding peer-reviewed researchPeer review is a process in which an expert in a particular field reviews the work of another expert to assess its quality before publication. Experts consider peer-reviewed work the gold standard in scientific can search for peer-reviewed studies and reviews in databases such as the National Center for Biotechnology it is still important to consider the limitations of studies and research. Questions to ask may include:How old is the study or the research in the review?Is the study on cells, animals, or humans?What is the participant sample size?Does the study contain a diverse range of candidates?What uncontrolled variables might have affected the results?Has the study revealed a causal link or observed a correlation between two things?Is more research necessary on the subject?Predatory journalsPredatory journals misrepresent their publishing practices but claim to be legitimate. They may:violate copyrightfalsely claim to use peer reviewshide or misrepresent information about its publication or the editorial boardPredatory journals are not a reliable source of health information and typically prioritize profits over accurate, high quality a journal's editorial board, publishing processes, and contact information can help people identify predatory with a healthcare professionalSpeaking with a trusted healthcare professional is a good way to learn reliable health information tailored to a person's circumstances. Some people may prefer getting multiple opinions to feel fully informed about their health can also discuss health information they've found online with their healthcare team. A healthcare professional may also be able to recommend reputable sources of information for the person to use.»Learn more:Getting a second opinion without a referralFrequently asked questionsAre government health websites always the most reliable sources?Government health websites can be a good starting point for finding reliable health information. However, it is still a good idea for people to check the publication date, review process, and health websites can be a good starting point for finding reliable health information. However, it is still a good idea for people to check the publication date, review process, and should someone do if they find contradictory health information online?If someone finds contradictory health information online, people can check:the quality of the references or sources that each site useswhen the information was published, updated, or reviewedif other reputable sources support one of the viewsif a healthcare professional recommends one source over the otherIf someone finds contradictory health information online, people can check:the quality of the references or sources that each site useswhen the information was published, updated, or reviewedif other reputable sources support one of the viewsif a healthcare professional recommends one source over the otherSummaryFinding reliable health content and avoiding misinformation online is increasingly challenging. However, people can take steps to assess the websites they use and the content they the publication date, the quality of the references, who reviewed the information, and the website's in doubt, it is a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional. They can help a person understand the information they have found and recommend other reputable sources.
