Discussion on construction of network epidemiology from infodemic of COVID-19 / 中华医学科研管理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:Infodemic is defined by WHO during the prevention and control of COVID-19. The emergence of Infodemic prompts the necessity and urgency of the construction of network epidemiology.Methods:There are two battlefields at the same time during the COVID-19 epidemic people face-to-face struggle with viruses in physical space and people’s attention and information dissemination in cyberspace. The Infodemic is mainly because that cyberspace expands the scope and speed of information dissemination, but it is difficult or unable to control the content of information dissemination.Results:The users in cyberspace are mappings of real individuals in physical space, and the Infodemic in cyberspace will inevitably affect or harm real individuals in physical space. As the Internet plays an increasingly important role in people′s life and work, carrying out systematic study of the impact of cyberspace events on public’s physical and mental health will provide a scientific basis for regulating the behaviors of online users, formulating rules for the publication and dissemination of online information, as well as improving public health management and social governance.Conclusions:Following definition of Infodemic by WHO, this paper discusses the potential framework of network epidemiology.