C5.01 - Skill-Building Intensive: Combating Health Misinformation in Today’s World: A Multifaceted Approach for Public Health

Brief Abstract Summary: Health misinformation in the U.S. has skyrocketed in recent years and is the internet’s new “normal.” Between March 2022 and March 2023, the U.S. was responsible for 71% of vaccine opposition and misinformation online. In a 2023 poll conducted by the de Beaumont Foundation, 72% of physicians said that misinformation negatively impacted COVID-19 outcomes, and two thirds said it was a problem in other health areas.
The U.S. anti-vaccine misinformation movement is well-organized and resourced – and they have a lot to gain from spreading disinformation about vaccines. Between 2020 and 2022, the four major nonprofits that rose to prominence during the coronavirus pandemic by capitalizing on the spread of medical misinformation collectively gained more than $118 million in profits.

How does a chronically underfunded profession fight back against a profitable, well-resourced disinformation machine? By vigorously innovating and leveraging the one asset we have, that they don’t: the truth.

Detailed abstract description: In this panel, experts across organizations will present practical solutions that public health can employ to inoculate audiences against false narratives and create a safer, more accurate information environment.

Moderator: Maddie Kapur, de Beaumont Foundation.
Maddie Kapur is a Program Officer at the de Beaumont Foundation. She leads the Foundation’s efforts in combatting misinformation and promoting infodemiology, and prior to working for de Beaumont, held a variety of roles at a state public health agency. In this panel, Maddie will set the stage by discussing the unique role that public health experts have in addressing this environment of mis-and disinformation, and the importance of addressing this issue from all angles. She will lead an interactive discussion with the panelists, prompting them to discuss the issue, their work, and its various applications for the audience.

Panelist: Joe Smyser, the Public Good Projects.
Dr. Joe Smyser is President and CEO of the Public Good Projects (PGP). PGP is a public health nonprofit specializing in large-scale media monitoring programs. Joe will discuss the importance of knowing what narratives – true or false – are circulating online to most effectively fill information gaps and address misinformation. He’ll share their innovative approach of leveraging media monitoring to track trending health narratives, and detail some of the resources available on their website, infodemiology.com.

Panelist: Amanda Kwong, Public Health Communications Collaborative.
Amanda is the Director of the Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC). Amanda will discuss the role that PHCC plays in combating public health misinformation, including trending narrative alerts for public health communicators and providing plain language public health messaging that is as “sticky” as mis-and disinformation.

Panelist: Aishwarya Nagar, Johns Hopkins University.
Aishwarya is a Senior Analyst at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and as Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her focus includes building trust and countering health misinformation in the U.S., and she was instrumental in the publication of Johns Hopkins’ Practical Playbook for Addressing Health Misinformation. Aishwarya will discuss the impacts of misinformation on safety and security and share resources JHU has created for public health professionals.

Panelist: Hagere Yilma , Kaiser Family Foundation.
The Health Misinformation and Trust Initiative is a new KFF program aimed at tracking health misinformation in the U.S, analyzing its impact on the American people, and mobilizing media to address the problem. Their goal is to help efforts to counter misinformation and build trust. Hagere will discuss KFF’s Misinformation Monitor, its uses, and how ASPPH members can leverage these tools and help bolster their impacts.