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Building Digital Health Communication Capacity: A Process Evaluation of the Infodemiology Training Program
Erika Bonnevie1, Maddie Kapur2, Roxanne Alvarado-Torres1
1The Public Good Projects, San Diego, CA, USA.
Health Promotion Practice
|July 19, 2026
Summary
The Infodemiology Training Program (ITP) trained public health professionals in using digital health information. While relevant and applied by many, completion rates declined, suggesting a need for shorter modules and applied tools.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Informatics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic increased the need for infodemiology expertise in public health.
- Infodemiology involves using health information from digital sources for public health decisions.
- A gap existed in specialized training for public health professionals in this area.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the development, pilot testing, and implementation of the Infodemiology Training Program (ITP).
- To assess the reach, relevance, and practical application of the ITP among U.S. public health professionals.
- To identify barriers and facilitators to course completion and inform future training improvements.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining platform analytics, participant surveys, and interviews.
- Platform metrics tracked engagement for 3,319 registrants.
- Surveys (n=61) and interviews (n=4) gathered qualitative and quantitative data on program experience and application.
Main Results:
- High initial engagement was observed, with 49.5% completing the first module, but completion decreased in later modules.
- 60.0% of respondents reported applying the training in their work, and 92.5% found it relevant.
- Participants valued flexibility and misinformation response training, but time constraints and job misalignment were completion barriers.
Conclusions:
- The ITP successfully addressed a critical training need in infodemiology for the public health workforce.
- Future iterations should consider shorter learning segments and more applied learning tools to enhance completion rates.
- The program represents a foundational step towards integrating infodemiology into formal public health education and practice.
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