We Need to Know: A Call for Interdisciplinary Education on COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Education
• Information Science

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruption across disciplines.
• Widespread misinformation regarding the virus became a major concern.
• Student populations were particularly vulnerable to information overload.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a student-organized webinar in combating COVID-19 misinformation.
• To evaluate the impact of expert-led presentations on student knowledge and anxiety.
• To determine the utility of webinars as an educational tool during health crises.

Main Methods:

• A web-based conference (webinar) was designed and executed by thirteen students.
• Professionals delivered presentations on the current and future impacts of COVID-19.
• Pre- and post-conference surveys were administered to measure attendee knowledge and feelings of overwhelm.

Main Results:

• Survey data indicated a significant increase in attendee knowledge about COVID-19.
• Participants reported a reduced sense of being overwhelmed by COVID-19 information.
• The webinar format was perceived as beneficial for information dissemination.

Conclusions:

• Webinars can be an effective tool for mitigating health misinformation among students.
• This initiative demonstrated the potential for student-led educational interventions.
• The webinar model shows promise for future public health communication strategies.