Good decisions can mean the difference between life and death or stable finances and bankruptcy. Critical thinking is imperative in all of it.

I recently observed an instance of where healthcare seemed to be flying off in all different directions when a patient noted there was edema in both of her legs below the knees. What did they want to do? Of course, the testing was extensive and very expensive, and they also suggested she order specialized equipment to apply pressure to the legs for the edema.

Fortunately, the woman can consider all options and use the skills available to her on her computer. She began to search. What did she find? As it is in so many things, it was a simple solution that none of the medical specialists had considered: diet.

Once she realized that she had been eating an inordinate amount of tomatoes, and when she was alerted to its histamine presence, she changed her diet. No, the doctors didn’t question her diet at all. What happened then? The edema began to go down and has decreased ever since.

When you walk into a doctor’s office, you trust that the medical professionals caring for you are making the best decisions possible. But here’s something that might surprise you: both parents and college students in the U.S. struggled to think critically about health and treatments based on various science literacy and evidence-based practice principles. This isn’t just about doctors and nurses — it’s about you, too. Your ability to think clearly about health information could literally save your life.

What Is Critical Thinking in Healthcare?

Critical thinking sounds fancy, but it’s really just careful, smart thinking that helps you make good decisions. In healthcare, critical thinking is the foundation of informed healthcare practice. It involves evaluating information systematically, questioning assumptions, identifying relevant evidence, and making sound decisions based on logical reasoning.

Think of it this way: when your car makes a strange noise, you don’t just ignore it. You listen, think about what might be wrong, maybe ask a mechanic, and then decide what to do. Critical thinking about your health works the same way — you gather information, ask questions, and make informed choices.

Why Your Health Depends on It

Every day, you’re bombarded with health information from the internet, TV commercials, friends, and family. Some of this information is helpful, but some can be misleading or even dangerous. Critical thinking skills have been linked to improved patient outcomes, better quality patient care, and improved safety outcomes in healthcare.

Here’s the reality: when you can’t think critically about health information, you might make decisions that hurt rather than help you. You might skip important treatments, try dangerous remedies, or miss warning signs of serious health problems.

Recent research shows that healthcare professionals who do not possess a capacity for critical thinking and problem-solving skills have a measurable impact on the health of their patients and communities, specifically poor rates of compliance with health recommendations and treatments, as well as direct harm to the health and wellbeing of those being served.

But here’s the good news: you can learn to think more clearly about your health, and it’s easier than you might think.

The Real-World Impact

Let’s look at a simple example. Imagine you have chest pain. Without critical thinking, you might immediately panic and assume you’re having a heart attack, or you might dismiss it as nothing serious. Another example might be that a patient comes in with very common symptoms, such as a cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Without learning more about the circumstances, a clinician may initially think that the person has pneumonia. But as the clinician gathers more information, this assumption could change.

A critical thinker would ask questions: When did the pain start? What makes it better or worse? Have I been under stress? Did I do anything physically demanding? This kind of thinking helps you give better information to your doctor and make smarter decisions about whether you need immediate care.

Building Your Critical Thinking Toolkit

The great news is that anyone can develop better critical thinking skills. Here are practical steps you can start using today:

Step 1: Question Everything (In a Good Way)

Don’t accept health information at face value. Critical thinking skills can be summarised by the statement that ‘thinking is driven by questions’, so teaching materials need to be designed to encourage students to expand their learning by asking questions that generate further questions and stimulate the thinking process.

Ask yourself:
Who is giving me this information?
What evidence supports this claim?
Are there other possible explanations?
What are the risks and benefits?

Step 2: Gather Information from Reliable Sources

Not all health information is created equal. Resources can be classified into primary (e.g., patient data, clinical observations) and secondary (e.g., medical literature, research studies). Quality resources should be reliable, current, and relevant to support informed clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice. The popular media is often influenced by advertising revenue, a single study, or someone’s opinion. It is not, therefore, a primary source for you to consider.

Look for information from:
Your healthcare provider
Government health agencies (like the CDC)
Major medical organizations
Peer-reviewed medical websites

Be wary of:
Social media health claims
Websites selling products
Information without sources
“Miracle cure” promises

Step 3: Learn to Spot Your Biases

We all have biases that can cloud our judgment. Critical thinking involves the application of knowledge and experience to identify patient problems and to direct clinical judgments and actions that result in positive patient outcomes.

Common biases include:
Confirmation bias (only looking for information that supports what you already believe)
Wishful thinking (believing something because you want it to be true)
Fear-based thinking (making decisions based on worst-case scenarios)

Step 4: Practice Reflection

Allow time each day to reflect on successes and areas for improvement. This self-awareness can help identify your strengths, weaknesses, and personal biases to guide your decision-making.

Take time to think about:
Health decisions you’ve made recently
What information influenced you
Whether you asked enough questions
How you could improve next time

Step 5: Communicate Openly

Good communication skills are considered to be the bedrock of critical thinking. Why? They help to create a dialogue that invites questions, reflections, and an open-minded approach, as well as generating a positive learning environment needed to support all forms of communication.

With your healthcare providers:
Ask questions until you understand
Share your concerns honestly
Discuss your preferences and values
Don’t pretend to understand something you don’t

Step 6: Stay Curious and Keep Learning

Be a lifelong learner. Continuous learning through educational courses and professional development lets you stay current with evidence-based practice. That knowledge helps you make informed decisions in stressful moments.

This doesn’t mean you need to become a medical expert, but staying informed about your own health conditions and general wellness can help you make better decisions.

Making It Work in Real Life

Critical thinking isn’t just for major health crises. You can use these skills every day:

When choosing a health insurance plan
Deciding whether to try a new supplement
Evaluating online health advice
Preparing for doctor appointments
Understanding medication instructions
Making lifestyle changes

Your Health, Your Power

Here’s the bottom line: your health is too important to leave entirely to others. While you should absolutely trust and work with qualified healthcare professionals, you also need to be an active, thinking participant in your own care.

These skills can be cultivated by educators who display the virtues of critical thinking, including independence of thought, intellectual curiosity, courage, humility, empathy, integrity, perseverance, and fair-mindedness. You don’t need to be a physician to develop these qualities — they’re skills anyone can learn and practice.

By developing your critical thinking skills, you’re not just becoming a better patient — you’re taking control of your health and your life. You’re protecting yourself from misinformation, making better decisions, and working more effectively with your healthcare team.

Remember, critical thinking isn’t about being suspicious or distrustful. It’s about being smart, informed, and actively engaged in the decisions that affect your health and wellbeing. Your future self will thank you for starting today.

Start small, ask questions, and keep learning. Your health — and your life — may depend on it.