How to do your own online health research like a scientist – a biostatistician’s step‑by‑step guide

The instinct to “do your own research” when it comes to your health is a good one. The challenge often is not lack of information, but the opposite. People are surrounded by studies, headlines, forums, family and friends, often all speaking at once in different directions and with different levels of reliability. How do you move through this abundance of information without getting lost in it? I am a biostatistician by training. In my work, I study how medical evidence is generated and interpreted. I have been on the other side of that process, trying to make sense of medical information that could affect my health or the health of my loved ones. Over time, I’ve found myself returning to the same road map when doing my own research to answer personal health questions. By sharing how I approach this process as a scientist, I’m hoping this method can help others sift through medical information carefully. Framing the question Before trying to answer a medical question, you first need to…