Dr. Michael Gisondi from Stanford University lectured on the topic "Combating Health Misinformation" at Community Memorial Health Care. He discussed the impact of health misinformation, provided scripted language to practice when discussed misinformation with patients, encouraged physicians to engage with patients using social media, and recommended several ways that residency training programs can combat health misinformation.
Combating Health Misinformation _ M Gisondi _ Community Memorial Health System _ 2 6 2024.pdf
1. M I C H A E L A . G I S O N D I , M D
P R O F E S S O R A N D V I C E C H A I R O F E D U C A T I O N
D E P A R T M E N T O F E M E R G E N C Y M E D I C I N E
A S S I S T A N T D E A N F O R A C A D E M I C A D V I S I N G
S T A N F O R D S C H O O L O F M E D I C I N E
COMBATING HEALTH
MISINFORMATION
2. @MikeGisondi
Presented to:
Community Memorial Health Care, February 6, 2024.
I have no pertinent disclosures to report, financial or otherwise.
Views are my own and not endorsed by Stanford University.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, engaged participants will be able to:
1. 1. Define the terms misinformation, disinformation, and infodemic.
2. 2. Explain how to use motivational interviewing to address misinformation.
3. 3. List the 5 steps to address health misinformation online.
4. 4. Identify opportunities for resident scholarship about health misinformation.
3.
4. Four Questions to Answer Today:
What is the impact of health misinformation?
What are best practices for addressing misinformation with your patients?
How can we leverage social media to combat health misinformation?
What can your residency programs do to address misinformation?
33. Spend Time with
Patients Deliberating Vaccines
“Have you received other vaccines?”
“May I ask why not the COVID vaccine?”
34. Engage Patients
With Empathy
“I understand why you’re concerned.”
“May I share some information with you?”
“Thank you for letting me share what I know.”
35.
36. Personalize
the Message
“Let’s focus on how the vaccine can help you.”
“You’re healthy, yet COVID can still make you sick.”
“The vaccine can prevent you from getting seriously sick.”
“You won’t need to worry as much.”
37. Describe How
Misinformation Happens
“I understand your worry about side effects.”
“The vaccine has been safely administered to half of the world.”
“Inevitably some people will get sick from another illness.”
“It doesn’t mean the vaccine caused them to get sick.”
39. 6-Step Myth
Debunking Strategy
1. State the misinformation once.
2. Immediately state a fact.
3. Explain why the fallacy was once considered true.
4. Explain why we know it to be false.
5. Explain why the alternative is correct.
6. Close by stating the fact again.
40. 6-Step Myth
Debunking Strategy
1. The vaccine was made too quickly and its unsafe.
2. The vaccine is among the safest ever made.
3. Some worried that vaccine testing was rushed.
4. Vaccine was tested in an appropriately large population.
5. It has since been given safely to half the world.
6. The vaccine is among the safest ever made.
41. Make COVID-19
Vaccination Routine Health Care
DO: “You are overdue for your COVID-19 booster.”
“I order boosters for all my patients who are overdue.”
DON’T: “Would you like to get a COVID-19 shot today?”
42. What are best practices for
addressing misinformation
with your patients?
Motivational Interviewing:
Respectful Dialogue
Listen and Validate
Provide Facts
Patient Draws Conclusions
43. How can we leverage
social media to combat
health misinformation?
47. Common Barriers to
Social Media Engagement
▪ Lack of measurable outcomes
▪ Harassment and bullying
▪ Lack of institutional support
▪ Lack of social media training
48. Facilitators of
Social Media Engagement
▪ Misinformation training
▪ Social media training
▪ Building social media presence
49.
50. 5-Step Method to Combat
Misinformation Online
1. Identify and Label Misinformation
2. Provide Correct Information
3. Reference a Source
4. Repeat the Correct Information
5. Respond Immediately
61. The COVID-19 INFODEMIC:
COMPLEX and CONTRADICTORY INFORMATION…
(1) origins of the virus
(2) treatment options
(3) lifesaving vaccines
Gisondi et al. JMIR. 2022
66. Engage in public health
education online
Use social media to connect to
new strategic partners
67. How can we leverage
social media to combat
health misinformation?
Use Your Platform:
Engage in Social Media
Identify Misinformation
Provide Facts
Partner with Stakeholders
70. ("social media" [tw] OR "social media" [mesh] OR twitter [ti] OR Instagram
[ti] OR facebook [ti]) AND ("covid 19" [tw] OR covid [tw] OR covid19 [tw]
OR "ncov 2019" [tw] OR "novel coronavirus" [tw] OR "sars cov 2" [tw] OR
"sars cov-2" [tw] OR "ncov 2019" [tw] OR sarscov2 [tw] OR (wuhan [tw]
AND coronavirus* [tw]) OR "corona virus*" [tw] OR "coronavirus disease
2019" [tw] OR "coronavirus disease 19" [tw] OR "2019 ncov" [tw] OR
2019nCoV [tw] OR "coronavirus 2" [tw] OR "Coronavirus"[Mesh:NoExp]
OR "SARS-CoV-2"[Mesh] OR "COVID-19 Testing"[Mesh] OR "COVID-19"
[mesh] OR "COVID-19 Vaccines"[Mesh] OR "Receptors,
Coronavirus"[Mesh] OR "Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus"[Mesh] OR
"SARS-CoV-2 variants" [Supplementary Concept]) AND ("Patient
Education as Topic"[Mesh] OR "Patient Education Handout" [Publication
Type] OR "health literacy" [tw] OR "patient education" [tw] OR "Health
Literacy"[Mesh] OR "Health Promotion"[Mesh])
84. What can your
residency program do to
address misinformation?
Use Social Media in New Ways:
Support social media use
Develop new policies
Teach best practices
Find research opportunities
85. Surgeon General Murthy, 2021
“Limiting the spread of
health misinformation is a
moral and civic imperative
that will require a
whole-of-society effort.”