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Framework for Managing the COVID-19 Infodemic: Methods and Results of an Online, Crowdsourced WHO Technical Consultation.
Tangcharoensathien, Viroj; Calleja, Neville; Nguyen, Tim; Purnat, Tina; D'Agostino, Marcelo; Garcia-Saiso, Sebastian; Landry, Mark; Rashidian, Arash; Hamilton, Clayton; AbdAllah, Abdelhalim; Ghiga, Ioana; Hill, Alexandra; Hougendobler, Daniel; van Andel, Judith; Nunn, Mark; Brooks, Ian; Sacco, Pier Luigi; De Domenico, Manlio; Mai, Philip; Gruzd, Anatoliy; Alaphilippe, Alexandre; Briand, Sylvie.
  • Tangcharoensathien V; International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
  • Calleja N; Directorate for Health Information and Research, Ministry for Health, Valetta, Malta.
  • Nguyen T; High Impact Events Preparedness, Global Infectious Hazards Preparedness, Emergency Preparedness, Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Purnat T; Department of Digital Health and Innovation, Science Division, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
  • D'Agostino M; Information Systems for Health, Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health, Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization Regional Office for the Americas, Washington DC, DC, United States.
  • Garcia-Saiso S; Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health, Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization Regional Office for the Americas, Washington, DC, United States.
  • Landry M; Department of Health Systems Development, Regional Office for South-East Asia, World Health Organization, New Delhi, India.
  • Rashidian A; Department of Science, Information and Dissemination, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, World Health Organization, Cairo, Egypt.
  • Hamilton C; Division of Health Systems and Public Health, Regional Office for Europe, World Health Organization, Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • AbdAllah A; Communications Department, Regional Office for Africa, World Health Organization, Brazzaville, Congo.
  • Ghiga I; Global Infectious Hazards Preparedness, Emergency Preparedness, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Hill A; Global Infectious Hazards Preparedness, Emergency Preparedness, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Hougendobler D; Global Infectious Hazards Preparedness, Emergency Preparedness, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
  • van Andel J; Department of Digital Health and Innovation, Science Division, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Brooks I; Center for Health Informatics, School of Information Sciences, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, United States.
  • Sacco PL; Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Trento, Italy.
  • De Domenico M; Venice Office, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Venice, Italy.
  • Mai P; The University Institute for Modern Languages, Milan, Italy.
  • Gruzd A; Berkman-Klein Center for Internet and Society, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States.
  • Alaphilippe A; Complex Multilayer Networks (CoMuNe) Research, Center for Information and Communication Technology, Bruno Kessler Foundation, Trento, Italy.
  • Briand S; Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
J Med Internet Res ; 22(6): e19659, 2020 06 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-607410
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

An infodemic is an overabundance of information-some accurate and some not-that occurs during an epidemic. In a similar manner to an epidemic, it spreads between humans via digital and physical information systems. It makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it.

OBJECTIVE:

A World Health Organization (WHO) technical consultation on responding to the infodemic related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was held, entirely online, to crowdsource suggested actions for a framework for infodemic management.

METHODS:

A group of policy makers, public health professionals, researchers, students, and other concerned stakeholders was joined by representatives of the media, social media platforms, various private sector organizations, and civil society to suggest and discuss actions for all parts of society, and multiple related professional and scientific disciplines, methods, and technologies. A total of 594 ideas for actions were crowdsourced online during the discussions and consolidated into suggestions for an infodemic management framework.

RESULTS:

The analysis team distilled the suggestions into a set of 50 proposed actions for a framework for managing infodemics in health emergencies. The consultation revealed six policy implications to consider. First, interventions and messages must be based on science and evidence, and must reach citizens and enable them to make informed decisions on how to protect themselves and their communities in a health emergency. Second, knowledge should be translated into actionable behavior-change messages, presented in ways that are understood by and accessible to all individuals in all parts of all societies. Third, governments should reach out to key communities to ensure their concerns and information needs are understood, tailoring advice and messages to address the audiences they represent. Fourth, to strengthen the analysis and amplification of information impact, strategic partnerships should be formed across all sectors, including but not limited to the social media and technology sectors, academia, and civil society. Fifth, health authorities should ensure that these actions are informed by reliable information that helps them understand the circulating narratives and changes in the flow of information, questions, and misinformation in communities. Sixth, following experiences to date in responding to the COVID-19 infodemic and the lessons from other disease outbreaks, infodemic management approaches should be further developed to support preparedness and response, and to inform risk mitigation, and be enhanced through data science and sociobehavioral and other research.

CONCLUSIONS:

The first version of this framework proposes five action areas in which WHO Member States and actors within society can apply, according to their mandate, an infodemic management approach adapted to national contexts and practices. Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and the related infodemic require swift, regular, systematic, and coordinated action from multiple sectors of society and government. It remains crucial that we promote trusted information and fight misinformation, thereby helping save lives.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / World Health Organization / Health Education / Coronavirus Infections / Pandemics / Social Media / Crowdsourcing / Betacoronavirus Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Systematic review/Meta Analysis Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: J Med Internet Res Journal subject: Medical Informatics Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: 19659

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / World Health Organization / Health Education / Coronavirus Infections / Pandemics / Social Media / Crowdsourcing / Betacoronavirus Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Systematic review/Meta Analysis Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: J Med Internet Res Journal subject: Medical Informatics Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: 19659