Seminar looks at impact of strategies to mitigate health-related misinformation

The first CHEPA seminar of 2024 takes place on Wednesday, January 17, when Mike Wilson and Marcela Vélez will present “Impact of strategies to mitigate health-related misinformation in diverse settings and populations: Findings from a living evidence synthesis.”

The seminar takes place in CRL-B119 from 12:30 – 1:30 pm and virtually. Email ramsay@mcmaster.ca to obtain the link to participate virtually. All are welcome.

CHEPA member Mike Wilson is Scientific Director, McMaster Health Forum; Associate Professor, Department of Health Evidence & Impact; and Marcela Vélez is Senior Scientific Lead, Innovative Evidence Products and Spanish Outreach, McMaster Health Forum.

Misinformation refers to inadvertent misleading information to which the public may be exposed and share without intent to cause harm. Misinformation can delay or prevent effective care, affect mental health, lead to misallocation health resources and/or create or exacerbate public-health crises.

Misinformation can also affect some members of society more than others (e.g., those with lower digital, numerical and health literacy and/or cognitive skills are more vulnerable to misinformation), and therefore be more exposed to health threats, leading to greater social and health inequities.

Extensive COVID-19-related misinformation has spurred efforts to mitigate the spread of falsehoods and undermine public trust in evidence-based care. While there are many strategies that have been identified to address misinformation, there is a need to evaluate their effects. This presentation will provide findings from the first version of a new living evidence synthesis designed to evaluate strategies to mitigate health-related misinformation in diverse settings, and across diverse populations, as well provide insights about the benefits of using a living evidence synthesis where the scope can be enhanced and findings can be routinely updated over time.