‘We’ve got to try and defeat the algorithms,’ Monash University Women's Health Alliance chair Jill Hennessy says

A women’s health group say there is one clear solution to combating the quackery of health information online.

Monash Women’s Health Alliance warns women and girls are exposed to quackery and false information online. Picture: iStock

Health experts need to embrace digital platforms if they want to help prevent women being exposed to quackery and false information online.

That’s the call of the Monash Women’s Health Alliance who warn women and girls are up against it when it comes to social media.

The Alliance is a network of over 185 research leaders, 50 specialist research groups and data groups brought together to help lead the direction of public health services for Victorian women and girls.

Alliance chair Jill Hennessy, a former Victorian Health Minister and Attorney-General, says the solution is working with, not against, digital platforms so that women are directed to trusted information and resources.

Jill Hennessy is chair of the Monash University Women's Health Alliance.

“We’ve got to try and defeat the algorithms that are damaging so many young women and their mental health,” she said.

“I call it the war on truthiness by quacks. We’ve got to go and fight them on their own grounds.

“Our view is ultimately that we’ve got to go and meet people where they are, and people are online.”

Professor Hennessy says if more health experts don’t start putting out a credible digital presence in ways that women and girls can access, and in language that is accessible, they are ceding the space to people focused on putting quackery on digital domains.

On Monday Prof Hennessy will chair a session of the World Health Summit’s regional meeting which is being held over three days in Melbourne. The summit attracts global public health experts, policy makers, clinical leaders and researchers.

She will host a panel of Alliance health experts to show digital health platforms can be a “women’s health hack”.

More credible health information is needed to help women make more informed decisions about their health. Picture: iStock

Monash Professor, Helena Teede, will talk about an app she developed called AskPCOS. It provides women with credible information on the common hormonal disorder Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). The app has 50,000 users from 195 countries.

Professor Kirsten Palmer will discuss a world-first program she helped develop that gives women access to maternal and peri-natal health care services through telehealth.

Other topics to be discussed on Monday include healthy ageing data platforms and using podcasts to disseminate scientific evidence to help women make informed decisions about their health.

The value of databases, social media, wearable devices, telehealth, AI, apps and other digital platforms to navigate healthcare systems will also be under the spotlight along with how to help women seek diagnosis and treatment and advocate for their own health needs.

Prof Hennessy said the Alliance was encouraging all of its experts to build a strong online presence as a source of credible information.

The vision, she said, was to make sure all women could live their best lives through access to the latest evidence-based health information and care.