Combatting Misinformation in Healthcare

Authored by Kendall Job, Associate, Catalyst

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, which highlights the conversation around immunization and accurate health information sharing. Over time, social media has become the primary avenue for information sharing. Research has found that 90% of all US adults use social media sites to search for health information. That said, as information sources continue to increase, #NIAM reminds us, as healthcare communicators and as people, of the importance of sharing accurate health information, both on and offline.

As healthcare communicators, it is our responsibility to share information from credible, trusted sources throughout all the content we create, and advise our clients to do the same. With that, it is important that we and all healthcare communicators prioritize dispelling health misconceptions and combatting misinformation in the healthcare space.

How can we best help to combat health misinformation through our work? Consider the below: ?

• Check your source and verify the information with a credible health resource, like the World Health Organization (WHO) or Center for Disease Control (CDC).
• Consider the impact of the content you’re sharing. Is it truthful and helpful for others to be informed of? Have you fact-checked the content? Will it positively impact your audience?
• Resist viewing duplication as verification. Misinformation is viral in nature, but just because it’s being widely shared doesn’t mean it’s accurate.

Backed by research and data professionals, Golin’s unique G4 working model allows our skilled specialist teams to work together seamlessly to verify all the work we create is accurate and truthful. Our hope is that our collaborative efforts with clients may benefit as many people and patients as possible to have a positive impact on the world at large.?