Beyond misinformation: developing a public health prevention framework for managing information ecosystems.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Information Science
• Health Communication

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the significant public health threat posed by infodemics, characterized by an overabundance of information, including misinformation and disinformation.
• Current infodemic management frameworks primarily focus on acute emergencies, lacking integration into routine public health service delivery.
• This gap hinders individuals' ability to make informed health decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a comprehensive framework for infodemic management that integrates upstream strategies into routine service delivery.
• To provide guidance on identifying and implementing interventions based on the four levels of public health prevention.
• To shift focus from reactive responses to proactive management of information ecosystems.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review of 54 documents, including peer-reviewed and grey literature, published between 1961 and 2023.
• Analysis of existing evidence on infodemic management strategies.
• Categorization of interventions according to the four levels of prevention: primary, secondary, tertiary, and primordial.

Main Results:

• The review identified various interventions applicable to each level of public health prevention.
• A proposed framework encompasses upstream strategies for proactive infodemic management.
• Examples of interventions demonstrate practical application across the four prevention levels.

Conclusions:

• An integrated framework for infodemic management is crucial for routine public health service delivery.
• Proactive management of information ecosystems, utilizing a four-level prevention approach, is essential.
• This framework moves beyond reactive measures to effectively address the public health impact of infodemics.