Framework for managing the COVID-19 infodemic : Methods and results of an online, crowdsourced WHO technical consultation

Background: An infodemic is an overabundance of information—some accurate and some not—that occurs during an epidemic. In a similar manner to an epidemic, it spreads between humans via digital and physical information systems. It makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it. Objective: A World Health Organization (WHO) technical consultation on responding to the infodemic related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was held, entirely online, to crowdsource suggested actions for a framework for infodemic management. Methods: A group of policy makers, public health professionals, researchers, students, and other concerned stakeholders was joined by representatives of the media, social media platforms, various private sector organizations, and civil society to suggest and discuss actions for all parts of society, and multiple related professional and scientific disciplines, methods, and technologies. A total of 594 ideas for actions were crowdsourced online during the discussions and consolidated into suggestions for an infodemic management framework. Results: The analysis team distilled the suggestions into a set of 50 proposed actions for a framework for managing infodemics in health emergencies. The consultation revealed six policy implications to consider. First, interventions and messages must be based on science and evidence, and must reach citizens and enable them to make informed decisions on how to protect themselves and their communities in a health emergency. Second, knowledge should be translated into actionable behavior-change messages, presented in ways that are understood by and accessible to all individuals in all parts of all societies. Third, governments should reach out to key communities to ensure their concerns and information needs are understood, tailoring advice and messages to address the audiences they represent. Fourth, to strengthen the analysis and amplification of information impact, strategic partnerships should be formed across all sectors, including but not limited to the social media and technology sectors, academia, and civil society. Fifth, health authorities should ensure that these actions are informed by reliable information that helps them understand the circulating narratives and changes in the flow of information, questions, and misinformation in communities. Sixth, following experiences to date in responding to the COVID-19 infodemic and the lessons from other disease outbreaks, infodemic management approaches should be further developed to support preparedness and response, and to inform risk mitigation, and be enhanced through data science and sociobehavioral and other research. Conclusions: The first version of this framework proposes five action areas in which WHO Member States and actors within society can apply, according to their mandate, an infodemic management approach adapted to national contexts and practices. Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and the related infodemic require swift, regular, systematic, and coordinated action from multiple sectors of society and government. It remains crucial that we promote trusted information and fight misinformation, thereby helping save lives.peer-reviewe

Mexican household health expenditure as proportion of total expenditure according to presence of a member with diagnosed diabetes or hypertension.

<p>Mexican household health expenditure as proportion of total expenditure according to presence of a member with diagnosed diabetes or hypertension.</p

Mexico’s household health expenditure on diabetes and hypertension: What is the additional financial burden?

<div><p>Objective</p><p>This study aimed to estimate the magnitude of the association between overall household health expenditures & the presence of members with a chronic disease in the household.</p><p>Research design & methods</p><p>This was a cross-sectional analysis of a probabilistic household survey, which gathered data on previously diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension as well as health expenditure in Mexico. From an analytic sample of 44,000 households, we identified those having at least one member with diabetes or hypertension and determined their health expenditure. Using matching procedures, we compared these data with those of households lacking such individuals.</p><p>Results</p><p>We found that 24% of the households had at least one member who had been diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, or both. Households with such members reported health expenditures that were 25%–34% (<i>P</i> <0.01) higher than households without such individuals. Such differences were more pronounced among households at lower socioeconomic levels and among those with no or limited health insurance.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>In addition to their impact on individual health, chronic ailments exert financial pressure on households. The additional health-care expenditure for households owing to such diseases leaves them financially exposed—especially households with lower income levels.</p></div

Average (95% confidence intervals) household quarterly health expenditures (in pesos) among Mexican households according to presence of household members with diagnosed diabetes or hypertension.

<p>Average (95% confidence intervals) household quarterly health expenditures (in pesos) among Mexican households according to presence of household members with diagnosed diabetes or hypertension.</p

Average (95% confidence interval) percentage of total household health among Mexican households according to presence of a member with diagnosed diabetes or hypertension.

<p>Average (95% confidence interval) percentage of total household health among Mexican households according to presence of a member with diagnosed diabetes or hypertension.</p

Difference (95% confidence interval) in total expenditure and percentage of total household health among Mexican households having a member with diagnosed diabetes or hypertension matched with households without such individuals.

<p>Difference (95% confidence interval) in total expenditure and percentage of total household health among Mexican households having a member with diagnosed diabetes or hypertension matched with households without such individuals.</p

Mexico’s household health expenditure on diabetes and hypertension: What is the additional financial burden? - Fig 2

<p>Balance plots for the matching procedure: i) households having members with diabetes; ii) households having members with hypertension; iii) households having members with either diabetes or hypertension.</p

Toward a holistic definition for Information Systems for Health in the age of digital interdependence

The article’s main objective is to propose a new definition for Information Systems for Health, which is characterized by the identification and involvement of all the parts of a complex and interconnected process for data collection and decision-making in public health in the information society. The development of the concept was through a seven-step process including document analysis, on-site and virtual sessions for experts, and an online survey of broader health professionals. This new definition seeks to provide a holistic view, process, and approach for managing interoperable applications and databases that ethically considers open and free access to structured and unstructured data from different sectors, strategic information, and information and communication technology (ICT) tools for decision-making for the benefit of public health. It also supports the monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals and the implementation of universal access to health and universal health coverage as well as Health in All Policies as an approach to promote health-related policies across sectors. Information Systems for Health evolves from preconceptions of health information systems to an integrated and multistakeholder effort that ensures better care and better policy-making and decision-making.Fil: D´Agostino, Marcelo. Pan American Health Organization; Estados UnidosFil: Marti, Myrna. No especifíca;Fil: Otero, Paula Daniela. Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: Doane, Daniel. No especifíca;Fil: Brooks, Ian. University of Illinois at Urbana; Estados UnidosFil: Garcia Saiso, Sebastian. Pan American Health Organization; Estados UnidosFil: Nelson, Jennifer. No especifíca;Fil: Tejerina, Luis. No especifíca;Fil: Bagolle, Alexandre. No especifíca;Fil: Medina Mejia, Felipe. No especifíca;Fil: Luna, Daniel Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional e Ingeniería Biomédica - Hospital Italiano. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional e Ingeniería Biomédica.- Instituto Universitario Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional e Ingeniería Biomédica; ArgentinaFil: Curioso, Walter H.. Universidad Continental; PerúFil: Lourenço, Viviane. No especifíca;Fil: Malek, Victoria. No especifíca;Fil: de Cosio, Gerardo. Pan American Health Organization; Estados Unido