A Public Health Research Agenda for Managing Infodemics: Methods and Results of the First WHO Infodemiology Conference (Preprint)
Authors: Calleja Neville , AbdAllah AbdelHalim , Abad Neetu , Ahmed Naglaa , Albarracin Dolores , Altieri Elena , Anoko Julienne N , Arcos Ruben , Azlan Arina Anis , Bayer Judit , Bechmann Anja , Bezbaruah Supriya , Briand Sylvie C , Brooks Ian , Bucci Lucie M , Burzo Stefano , Czerniak Christine , De Domenico Manlio , Dunn Adam G , Ecker Ullrich K H , Espinosa Laura , Francois Camille , Gradon Kacper , Gruzd Anatoliy , Gülgün Beste Sultan , Haydarov Rustam , Hurley Cherstyn , Astuti Santi Indra , Ishizumi Atsuyoshi , Johnson Neil , Johnson Restrepo Dylan , Kajimoto Masato , Koyuncu Aybüke , Kulkarni Shibani , Lamichhane Jaya , Lewis Rosamund , Mahajan Avichal , Mandil Ahmed , McAweeney Erin , Messer Melanie , Moy Wesley , Ndumbi Ngamala Patricia , Nguyen Tim , Nunn Mark , Omer Saad B , Pagliari Claudia , Patel Palak , Phuong Lynette , Prybylski Dimitri , Rashidian Arash , Rempel Emily , Rubinelli Sara , Sacco PierLuigi , Schneider Anton , Shu Kai , Smith Melanie , Sufehmi Harry , Tangcharoensathien Viroj , Terry Robert , Thacker Naveen , Trewinnard Tom , Turner Shannon , Tworek Heidi , Uakkas Saad , Vraga Emily , Wardle Claire , Wasserman Herman , Wilhelm Elisabeth , Würz Andrea , Yau Brian , Zhou Lei , Purnat Tina D 
Published: June 2021

BACKGROUND

An infodemic is an overflow of information of varying quality that surges across digital and physical environments during an acute public health event. It leads to confusion, risk-taking, and behaviors that can harm health and lead to erosion of trust in health authorities and public health responses. Owing to the global scale and high stakes of the health emergency, responding to the infodemic related to the pandemic is particularly urgent. Building on diverse research disciplines and expanding the discipline of infodemiology, more evidence-based interventions are needed to design infodemic management interventions and tools and implement them by health emergency responders.

OBJECTIVE

The World Health Organization organized the first global infodemiology conference, entirely online, during June and July 2020, with a follow-up process from August to October 2020, to review current multidisciplinary evidence, interventions, and practices that can be applied to the COVID-19 infodemic response. This resulted in the creation of a public health research agenda for managing infodemics.

METHODS

As part of the conference, a structured expert judgment synthesis method was used to formulate a public health research agenda. A total of 110 participants represented diverse scientific disciplines from over 35 countries and global public health implementing partners. The conference used a laddered discussion sprint methodology by rotating participant teams, and a managed follow-up process was used to assemble a research agenda based on the discussion and structured expert feedback. This resulted in a five-workstream frame of the research agenda for infodemic management and 166 suggested research questions. The participants then ranked the questions for feasibility and expected public health impact. The expert consensus was summarized in a public health research agenda that included a list of priority research questions.

RESULTS

The public health research agenda for infodemic management has five workstreams: (1) measuring and continuously monitoring the impact of infodemics during health emergencies; (2) detecting signals and understanding the spread and risk of infodemics; (3) responding and deploying interventions that mitigate and protect against infodemics and their harmful effects; (4) evaluating infodemic interventions and strengthening the resilience of individuals and communities to infodemics; and (5) promoting the development, adaptation, and application of interventions and toolkits for infodemic management. Each workstream identifies research questions and highlights 49 high priority research questions.

CONCLUSIONS

Public health authorities need to develop, validate, implement, and adapt tools and interventions for managing infodemics in acute public health events in ways that are appropriate for their countries and contexts. Infodemiology provides a scientific foundation to make this possible. This research agenda proposes a structured framework for targeted investment for the scientific community, policy makers, implementing organizations, and other stakeholders to consider.