Related Experiment Videos
Defining Health Misinformation: Theoretical Concept Analysis
Johanna Saia Pope1,2,3,4, Paula Byrne1,2,3, Declan Devane1,2,3,4
1School of Nursing, Midwifery and Evidence Science, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe - University of Galway, Galway, Connacht, Ireland.
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Health misinformation is a growing concern due to digitalization, lacking clear definitions. This study analyzed literature to identify common themes and tensions, aiming for a more usable definition of health misinformation.
Area of Science:
- Health communication
- Information science
- Public health
Background:
- Digitalization has amplified health misinformation, creating a significant public health challenge.
- The term 'misinformation' lacks conceptual clarity, hindering research and effective response strategies.
- A clear definition is needed to address public concerns and information priorities regarding health misinformation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze common themes and debates surrounding the concept of health misinformation in current English-language discourse.
- To understand public perceptions of health misinformation's causes, consequences, and relationship to other problematic information.
- To identify and resolve conceptual tensions related to health misinformation.
Main Methods:
- A 3-phase hybrid concept analysis was employed, including a literature-based phase.
- An inductive, qualitative literature review systematically searched and analyzed recent publications (2016-2022) on health misinformation.
- Inductive thematic analysis was conducted on a stratified random sample of literature.
Main Results:
- Key antecedents identified include rapid technological change, information predators, and cultural issues like social fragmentation.
- Health misinformation is characterized by falseness, deceptiveness, persuasive strategies, and disruption of community consensus.
- Significant disagreements exist regarding the definition of misinformation and its adjudication, especially with evidentiary uncertainty.
Conclusions:
- This review is the first to examine explicit and implicit definitions of misinformation, centering contemporary usages.
- Key characteristics of health misinformation were identified, alongside areas needing further conceptual development.
- Future work should focus on operationalizing the term, standardizing communication of uncertainty, and developing inclusive definitions.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Concepts of Health and Illness
Health is a condition of the body, mind, and spirit where an individual remains free from illness. Similarly, wellness is an active state, including living a lifestyle that promotes physical, mental, and emotional health. Physical health is critical for the overall well-being and can be affected by lifestyle, activity level, diet, and behavior. The highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental and universal human right. Consider Lisa, a fifteen-year-old born with congenital...
01:25Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention I
A model is a theoretical way to understand a concept or an idea. Models can overcome barriers to health regardless of diverse economic and cultural backgrounds. In addition, models make the task easier by providing different ways to approach complex issues. There are two major health promotion models: the health belief model and the health promotion model.
The health belief model (HBM) attempts to predict health-related behavior in specific belief patterns. According to the HBM, a person's...
The health belief model (HBM) attempts to predict health-related behavior in specific belief patterns. According to the HBM, a person's...
01:18Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention II
The person's health status fluctuates continually, varying from being in good health to becoming ill and returning to being healthy. To understand the concept of illness prevention, there are two models. First, the health-illness continuum model is a graphic representation of an individual's wellness. It states that a person is considered healthy in the absence of physical disease and the presence of good emotional health.
The agent-host-environment model states that disease results from...
The agent-host-environment model states that disease results from...
01:21Dimensions of Health and Illness
The factors influencing the health-illness continuum can be internal or external and may or may not be under conscious control. They are related to the following eight human dimensions, and each dimension is interrelated to one other.
01:21Health Literacy
Health literacy is an individual's or a community's capacity to comprehend, receive, read, and use relevant healthcare information and services. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2018) defines health literacy as the cognitive and social skills that determine the ability of individuals to gain access to, understand, and use information in ways that promote and maintain good health. As a result, the WHO helps individuals manage long-term health concerns, participate in preventative programs,...
01:30Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice
Theories play an essential role in organizing patient care. Theories refer to a proposed or followed belief, policy, or procedure that is the basis for action. Nursing theories are knowledge-based concepts that guide nurses' actions, influence nursing education and practice, and allow nurses to care for their patients.
Theories provide a perspective to assess patients' conditions and organize data and methods. They also assist in analyzing and interpreting information. They represent a...
Theories provide a perspective to assess patients' conditions and organize data and methods. They also assist in analyzing and interpreting information. They represent a...