Combating misinformation and disinformation: Role of the nurse

Combating misinformation and disinformation involves efforts to identify, challenge, and correct misleading or false information, especially when it can harm the understanding of health or safety.

Let's talk about information in the context of healthcare. In this case, information refers to accurate evidence-based data used to make informed decisions to ensure high quality patient care.

Misinformation is inaccurate and misleading information. Misinformation is spread without the intent to deceive.

Basically it's getting the facts wrong. On the other hand, disinformation involves deliberately misstating the facts by spreading false information.

Disinformation is spread with the intent to deceive, manipulate, or cause harm, typically for financial, personal, or political gain.

As the nurse, you'll help patients combat misinformation and disinformation while guiding them to accurate sources to support informed healthcare decisions.

OK, so both misinformation and disinformation can impact patient well-being and safety while undermining trust in clinicians such as nurses, pharmacists, and physicians.

When inaccurate health information leads to uninformed patient decision making, improper treatment, delays in care, or avoidance of necessary medical interventions, patient well-being and safety are at risk.

For example, misinformation about vaccines and their proposed link to autism can contribute to vaccine hesitancy, leading to lower vaccination rates and higher susceptibility to preventable diseases.

Similarly, disinformation about dietary supplements that haven't been approved for medical use can promote the use of quick fixes and fear of medical grade treatments.

This can cause delays in seeking medical advice, reliance on unregulated products, and harmful side effects. Additionally, misinformation and disinformation can undermine trust in clinicians by distorting perceptions, obstructing clear communication, and straining the clinician-patient relationship.

Patients exposed to erroneous health information might arrive at medical appointments with incorrect beliefs about diagnosis, treatments, and overall care.

This can lead to unrealistic expectations, resistance to evidence-based care, and healthcare decisions that negatively impact their health.

Misinformation and disinformation have been circulating for a long time and are spread by a variety of sources. Historically, word of mouth, advertising, and media outlets have been prominent sources.

For example, word of mouth misinformation can include folklore like feed a cold, starve a fever, that encourages restricting food and fluids during a fever, which can lead to negative health outcomes like dehydration, weakness, and a prolonged recovery.

Other sources of misinformation and disinformation are ad platforms that can promote misleading health-related content that's sensational or controversial to promote engagement.

As well as news outlets that prioritize emotionally charged or controversial stories over accuracy to attract viewers. While these sources remain prominent, the Internet, specifically social media platforms, have become a major source of misinformation and disinformation.

These platforms can rapidly and widely distribute information while amplifying it thanks to algorithms designed to prioritize content that's engaging or controversial.

Social media platforms also allow non-experts like influencers or companies with commercial interests to share health advice without oversight.

As the nurse, you'll help your patients to combat misinformation and disinformation by providing education on how to identify credible and reliable sources and advocating for the promotion of credible and reliable sources of information at the community level.

Begin by explaining that credible sources are those that are trustworthy and believable due to their expertise and reputation, which can include academic institutions, peer reviewed journals, nonprofit organizations, and governmental agencies.

Patients should also search for information from reliable sources that provide consistent and accurate information, such as medical databases.

Also be sure to acknowledge that there's a multitude of health information publicly available and ask your patient what sources they tend to use for information.

If you notice your preferred sources aren't credible or reliable, offer accurate alternatives in a non-judgmental manner to promote trust.

Encourage them to share their opinions and beliefs regarding certain treatments or therapies. Respond by explaining scientific facts objectively and attempting to debunk myths or inaccurate beliefs while avoiding use of medical jargon.

Also keep in mind that patient-centered care promotes autonomy, especially when it comes to decision making about healthcare choices.

So be sure to foster a collaborative process, which will help ensure that your patient's choice aligns with their values and best clinical information.

Next, teach your patient how they can determine whether information is credible and reliable. To do this, you can encourage them to use the CRP test, which helps evaluate information based on 5 main criteria.

C is for currency or the timeliness of the content, which involves checking when the information was first published or posted and if it's been recently updated or modified.

Because health information tends to evolve rapidly, patients should be encouraged to seek the best health related information that's supported by the latest scientific evidence.

When information isn't up to date, it can not only be misleading, but it can be harmful to patients. R is for relevance.

Ideally, the information your patient is seeking will answer their question. If the information doesn't relate to their topic or if it's written at a level that's too basic or too advanced, it's unlikely to fit your patient's needs for relevant information.

A is for authority where the author's credentials, affiliations, and expertise on the topic are vetted. For instance, content that's written by a licensed physician with expertise in the subject matter will have authority, whereas a self-proclaimed wellness coach without any credentials lacks authority.

The next day is for accuracy, which is the reliability or truthfulness of the information. For example, content that can be verified by other reliable sources and is free from an emotional or biased tone is more likely to be accurate.

On the flip side, if the content contradicts numerous other sources, seeks to sway the reader's perception of the topic, or even contains multiple spelling, grammar, or typographical errors, then the information is likely inaccurate.

P is for the purpose of the information. If the purpose is to empower readers with impartial and objective information so they can make sound health care decisions, the information is more likely to be credible and reliable.

In contrast, when the purpose is to sell a product like a website that has ads for a supplement sold by the author, it's unlikely to be trustworthy.

Lastly, at the community level, you can collaborate with local leaders and organizations to combat misinformation. For example, you might work with local faith groups, schools, and community organizations to assess shared health beliefs and clarify misconceptions.

On a larger scale, you can extend your influence by creating educational materials based on credible medical and scientific resources.

This could include writing for newspapers, contributing to health blogs, authoring social media posts, participating in community meetings, and serving on an expert panel.

All right, as a quick recap, combating misinformation and disinformation refers to the efforts to identify, challenge, and correct misleading or false information, especially when it can harm the understanding of health or safety.

Misinformation is inaccurate and misleading information that's spread without the intent to deceive. While disinformation involves deliberately spreading false information with the intent to deceive, manipulate, or even cause harm.

As the nurse, you'll help patients combat misinformation and disinformation by providing education, explaining how to determine credible and reliable sources, and advocating at the community level.