Handy dandy reference for frontline health workers addressing health misinformation and other digital harms
Tina D Purnat
Social, Commercial and Information Determinants of Health | Digital Public Health } Healthy Information Environment
Friends urgently asked me today for a list of resources in the US context that frontline health workers could use to brush up on responding to misinformation, and Elisabeth Wilhelm and I pulled this together.
It's not an exhaustive list, but it's a start, and if you have more suggestions, let me know and I'll add to the list.
Broad overview
Here are a few good syntheses on the issues of health misinformation for an overview of challenges beyond practical issues faced by frontline?workers:
Tools for healthcare providers, CHWs, and other healthcare personnel
(more and different list could be pulled together for analysts and others working in public health programming)
Motivational interviewing
Start with learning and practicing motivational interviewing. MI is a way of talking with a client to identify challenges or barriers they may face to achieving optimal health, such as quitting smoking, getting vaccinated, or incorporating exercise into their daily routine. MI is based on building a trusted dialogue where you listen more than you talk, and help your client think through what steps they want to take to improve their health.
In the context of responding to health misinformation, a client may have misperceptions about their risk of contracting a certain illness, may misunderstand potential prevention or treatment options, or may be unaware of what practical things they can do to reduce their risk or enact healthier behaviors.
Being able to have this quality conversation with the client is the foundational skill needed to address any questions, concerns, and misinformation and how they affect behaviors.
Below are links to some tools and courses are for different groups of people, such as immigrants and older adults, and for different topics, such as vaccination and opioid misuse. These principles are widely applicable to any area of health where individual behavior change is crucial for improving health.
How to respond to misinformation in interpersonal conversation
Addressing health misinformation, science denial and vocal vaccine deniers in public/community
Protecting staff and self from online harassment
Resources, tools and games for building information, media, and digital literacy (for staff or their clients and partners)
Newsletters and podcasts
If you're not already, subscribe to the KFF Health Information and Trust Monitor.
Other useful newsletters that talk about health, digital spaces, and at least occasionally include health misinformation and adjacent topics (Sadly, looks like the WHO infodemic management newsflash is no more).
Some great podcasts on health
Networks and other useful resources in the US space
For more
I try to keep a basic list of resources available and updated on my web site. Drop me a line if you have more suggestions!
MIIKOVAC Project https://www.msss.gouv.qc.ca/professionnels/vaccination/programme-d-entretien-motivationnel-en-maternite-pour-l-immunisation-des-enfants-emmie/
Epidemiologist - Hospital pharmacist - Public Health Expert
16 小时前Thanks Tina, super useful !!
Having extensive experience in public health program design, strategic planning, implementation and evaluation, highly skilled in Emergency Response in performing the Public Health Response.
1 天前Thanks for sharing, Tina
Formation et conseil en communication santé | CEO @OLYLO | Santé publique | One Health | Gestion d'infodémie | Vétérinaire??, Journaliste ??, Conférencière ?? et Entrepreneuse ??
2 天前Excellent thanks Tina!
Global Health Scientist | Decolonial Islamic Feminist | Operational Research for Humanitarian Advocacy
2 天前Wow this is amazingly well executed!