ABSTRACT
Purpose Because health misinformation pertaining to COVID-19 is a serious threat to public health, the purpose of this study is to develop a framework to guide an online intervention into some of the drivers of health misinformation online. This framework can be iterated upon through the use of design-based research to continue to develop further interventions as needed. Design/methodology/approach Using design-based research methods, in this paper, the authors develop a theoretical framework for addressing COVID-19 misinformation. Using a heuristic analysis of research on vaccine misinformation and hesitancy, the authors propose a framework for education interventions that use the narrative effect of transportation as a means to increase knowledge of the drivers of misinformation online. Findings This heuristic analysis determined that a key element of narrative transportation includes orientation towards particular audiences. Research indicates that mothers are the most significant household decision-makers with respect to vaccines and family health in general;the authors suggest narrative interventions should be tailored specifically to meet their interests and tastes, and that this may be different for mothers of different backgrounds and cultural communities. Originality/value While there is a significant body of literature on vaccine hesitancy and vaccine misinformation, more research is needed that helps people understand the ways in which misinformation works upon social media users. The framework developed in this research guided the development of an education intervention meant to facilitate this understanding.
ABSTRACT
Purpose : Health seeking behaviour is influenced by driving factors and barriers to action. It has been suggested that such behaviour may have been linked to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health care service provision and delivery. This study aimed to explore the health seeking beliefs held by the British public in relation to eye symptoms, and assess how these were influenced by the first COVID-19 lockdown. Methods : Methods: An anonymous web-based survey was made publicly available and disseminated through mailing lists and social media between June and August 2020. In addition to baseline demographics (including postcode-derived indices of deprivation), the survey sought respondents views on the severity and urgency of the need for medical review for four ophthalmic (dry eye disease, conjunctivitis, microbial keratitis and painless vision loss) scenarios on a five-point scale. Regarding urgency of medical review, respondents were asked to answer questions twice: once ignoring the COVID-19 pandemic, and once taking this into account. Results : A total of 402 respondents completed the survey, with a mean age of 61.6 years, and of whom 253 (63.1%) were female and 348 (87.7%) of white ethnicity. Scores for symptom severity and urgency of medical review increased significantly with the severity of the clinical scenario (both p<0.001). However, respondents gave significantly lower scores for urgency of medical attention when accounting for the COVID-19 pandemic (compared to no pandemic) for all scenarios (all p<0.001). Younger age, greater deprivation and non-white ethnicity were correlated with a lower perception of seriousness and urgency of medical attention. Conclusions : During the first UK lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic, reduced urgency of medical review for ocular and systemic pathologies was reported in response to the pandemic, and represents a barrier to health seeking behaviour. This has the potential to critically delay medical review and timely management, negatively impacting patient outcomes. Younger individuals with higher deprivation and non-white ethnic backgrounds may be at greater risk of this.