The strategy makes a number of recommendations on developing leadership and co-ordination, and rapidly responding and building resilience to false health information.

These include:

• providing dedicated resources
• participating in UK and international networks
• supporting staff to have evidence-based conversations with patients
• supporting embedding media, digital and health literacy into the Curriculum for Excellence
• engaging with community partners and third-sector organisations on public health messaging.

Health secretary Neil Gray has said the Scottish Health Information Integrity Strategy would help the NHS counter false and misleading health information by giving healthcare professionals the tools to enable people to make the best possible choices about their own health.

He said: ‘There is lot of health information at our fingertips, but often it is not in line with the science and evidence produced by international experts. Some of it is misleading, inaccurate, and sometimes just plain false. This strategy will help the Scottish Government and our health partners respond to the growing threat from such poor-quality information.

‘For all of us, understanding our health and options is vital, as the wrong information can lead us to make the wrong choices that can harm us or our loved ones. The Scottish Health Information Integrity Strategy will guide our response to these challenges and help retain public trust in the NHS.

‘For any health questions, in the first instance, people should go to Scotland's national health information service NHS Inform, which provides evidence-based and accurate health information.'

Professor Linda Bauld, University of Edinburgh chair in public health and Scottish Government chief social policy adviser, said: ‘People are seeking information about their health in new ways, and often from platforms which are not accurate.

‘This strategy marks the beginning of the Scottish healthcare system's response. It describes potential first steps to help NHS Scotland and others build and maintain trust and find the best ways of providing people with information.'