Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1439667
L i s te n to T h e A B M P Po d c a s t a t a b m p.co m /p o d c a s t s o r w h e reve r yo u a cce s s yo u r favo r i te p o d c a s t s 87 providing "services," and by our inability to fully understand the vast uncertainty and complexity of the problems facing our world. Our deep desire to ease the suffering of our clients, and yes, our own pain and confusion at a world so out of balance, makes it hard for us to notice when we're not being strictly honest and evidence-based or when we are creeping out of our scope as bodyworkers. We begin to feel that it's "common knowledge," for example, that gluten is bad . . . for everyone. We feel certain that shark cartilage and curcumin will end the pain that accompanies serious connective tissue diseases. We see the glossy, high-production-value magazine at the grocery store called Things Doctors Don't Want You to Know and we take up the mantle against . . . doctors. Facts exist and we must learn where to fi nd them, why they're important, and how to stick to them when we are communicating with our clients. They don't always ask us questions about the things they think. Sometimes they just say them. When we hear statements from our clients and know they are incorrect or possibly harmful, it is our responsibility to share what we know. It is also our responsibility to not offer information about things we have not researched ourselves from reputable sources. As health-care providers, we have a duty to educate and empower the people we serve with facts about their bodies and their health—real information that can support their well-being. Sometimes there simply are not good answers and we hate that, but that doesn't give us permission to suggest things that aren't true or that were only tested by Uncle Bill. We must do what other reliable, responsible health-care providers do. We must engage with critical thinking and discipline. We have to think critically about when and how to share what we know, and we must have the discipline to resist the temptation to guess or to agree out of 8 Ways to Spot Misinformation 1. Source suspicion. Vague, untraceable sources, such as "a doctor friend of a friend" or "scientists say" without further details, should ring alarm bells. 2. Bad language. Most trustworthy sources are regular communicators, so poor spelling, grammar, or punctuation are grounds for suspicion. 3. Emotional contagion. If something makes you angry or overjoyed, be on your guard. Miscreants know messages that trigger strong emotions get shared the most. 4. News gold or fool's gold? Genuine scoops are rare. If information is reported by only one source, beware—especially if it suggests that something is being hidden from you. 5. False accounting. Use of fake social media accounts, such as @ BBCNewsTonight, is a classic trick. Look out for misleading images and bogus web addresses too. 6. Oversharing. If someone urges you to share their sensational news, they might just want a share of the resulting advertising revenue. 7. Follow the money. Think about who stands to gain from you believing extraordinary claims. 8. Fact-check check. Go past the headlines and read a story to the end. If it sounds dubious, search fact-checking websites to see whether it has already been debunked. Source: Nic Fleming, "Coronavirus Misinformation, and How Scientists Can Help to Fight It," June 17, 2020, nature. com/articles/d41586-020-01834-3. our fear of confrontation. We can educate our clients without ever saying "You're wrong," and we will build trust and strong relationships by being honest and clear. Cal Cates is an educator, writer, and speaker on topics ranging from massage therapy in the hospital setting to end- of-life care and massage therapy policy and regulation. A founding director of the Society for Oncology Massage from 2007– 2014 and current executive director and founder of Healwell, Cates works within and beyond the massage therapy community to elevate the level of practice and integration of massage overall and in health care specifi cally. Cates also is the co-creator of the podcasts Massage Therapy Without Borders and Interdisciplinary. VIDEO: "FILLING IN THE GAPS" 1. Open your camera 2. Scan the code 3. Tap on notification 4. Watch! TAKEAWAY: Practitioners have to think critically about when and how to share what we know and must resist the temptation to guess.