What we can learn from information flows about COVID-19: Implications for research and practice

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Information Science
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound global impact, necessitating an understanding of how information shapes public perception and response.
• Effective crisis management relies on accurate and complete information dissemination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine information flows related to COVID-19.
• To identify information-specific underpinnings influencing crisis understanding.
• To analyze information from diverse sources including global health organizations and news media.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of information from the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHCPRC), and three major global news outlets.
• Identification of patterns in information volume and timing.
• Assessment of information quality, including completeness, misinformation, and disinformation.

Main Results:

• Information flows exhibited regular increases around specific dates.
• A significant prevalence of information imperfections, including incomplete data, misinformation, and disinformation, was observed.
• Key turning points in the pandemic lacked adequate information coverage.

Conclusions:

• Information imperfections identified in COVID-19 information flows can lead to significant information failures.
• These failures may result in ineffective strategies for managing the ongoing crisis.
• Further investigation into the implications of these information failures is warranted.