Measuring the Burden of Infodemics: Summary of the Methods and Results of the Fifth WHO Infodemic Management Conference (Preprint)

• DOI: 10.2196/preprints.44207
• Publication Date: 2022-11-16T14:37:12Z
• Authors: Elisabeth Wilhelm; Isabella Ballalai; Marie-Eve Belanger; Peter Benjamin; Catherine Bertran...; Supriya Bezbaruah; Sylvie Briand; Ian Brooks; Richard Bruns; Lucie M Bucci; Neville Calleja; Howard Chiou; Abhinav Devaria; Lorena Dini; Hyjel D'Souza; Adam G Dunn; Johannes C Eichst...; Silvia M A A Evers; Nina Gobat; Mika Gissler; Ian Christian Gon...; Anatoliy Gruzd; Sarah Hess; Atsuyoshi Ishizumi; Oommen John; Ashish Joshi; Benjamin Kaluza; Nagwa Khamis; Monika Kosinska; Shibani Kulkarni; Dimitra Lingri; Ramona Ludolph; Tim Mackey; Stefan Mandić-Raj...; Filippo Menczer; Vijaybabu Mudaliar; Shruti Murthy; Syed Nazakat; Tim Nguyen; Jennifer Nilsen; Elena Pallari; Natalia Pasternak...; Elena Petelos; Mitchell J Prinstein; Jon Roozenbeek; Anton Schneider; Varadharajan Srin...; Aleksandar Stevan...; Brigitte Strahwald; Shabbir Syed Abdul; Sandra Varaidzo M...; Sander van der Li...; Christopher Voegeli; Claire Wardle; Odette Wegwarth; Becky K White; Estelle Willie; Brian Yau; Tina D Purnat
• Keywords: Thematic Analysis; Global Health

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> An infodemic is excess information, including false or misleading that spreads in digital and physical environments during a public health emergency. The COVID-19 pandemic has been accompanied by an unprecedented global led to confusion about the benefits of medical interventions, with substantial impact on risk-taking health-seeking behaviors, eroding trust authorities compromising effectiveness responses policies. Standardized measures are needed quantify harmful impacts systematic methodologically robust manner, as well harmonizing highly divergent approaches currently explored for this purpose. This can serve foundation systematic, evidence-based approach monitoring, identifying, mitigating future harms emergency preparedness prevention. </sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> In paper, we summarize Fifth World Health Organization (WHO) Infodemic Management Conference structure, proceedings, outcomes, proposed actions seeking identify interdisciplinary frameworks enable measurement burden infodemics. <title>METHODS</title> iterative human-centered design (HCD) concept mapping were used facilitate focused discussions allow generation actionable outcomes recommendations. included 86 participants representing diverse scientific disciplines from 28 countries across all WHO regions, along observers civil society health–implementing partners. A thematic map capturing concepts matching key contributing factors infodemics was throughout conference frame contextualize discussions. Five areas immediate action identified. <title>RESULTS</title> 5 development metrics assess associated interventions (1) developing standardized definitions ensuring adoption thereof; (2) improving influencing infodemics; (3) conducting review evidence, tools, data sources; (4) setting up technical working group; (5) addressing priorities postpandemic recovery resilience building. summary report consolidated group input toward common vocabulary terms, concepts, study designs, measures, tools estimate management interventions. <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> Standardizing basis documenting systems population emergencies. Investment into practical, affordable, evidence-based, methods legally ethically balanced monitoring generating diagnostics, insights, recommendations; action-oriented guidance, policies, support options, mechanisms, managers program managers.