[A Study on Public Perception of Government Health Authorities' Infodemic Management and Communication]

We examined public perceptions of health authorities' infodemic response communication and the perceived necessity of infodemic management for future infectious disease crises. The survey was conducted online with a nationwide sample of 1,000 adults in the Republic of Korea through quota sampling based on age, gender, and region. Findings revealed that while participants perceived health authorities adequately provided information about coronavirus disease 2019 information, they perceived inadequate responses to major societal issues of infodemics such as misinformation, anxiety, fear, social conflict, and distrust. Moreover, there was a high demand for infodemic management and communication strategies for future infectious disease crises. This study suggests the consistent need for systematic and effective infodemic management for future infectious disease responses.