Medical Misinformation in Polish on the World Wide Web During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period: Infodemiology Study
BackgroundAlthough researchers extensively study the rapid generation and spread of misinformation about the novel coronavirus during the pandemic, numerous other health-related topics are contaminating the internet with misinformation that have not received as much attention. ObjectiveThis study aims to gauge the reach of the most popular medical content on the World Wide Web, extending beyond the confines of the pandemic. We conducted evaluations of subject matter and credibility for the years 2021 and 2022, following the principles of evidence-based medicine with assessments performed by experienced clinicians. MethodsWe used 274 keywords to conduct web page searches through the BuzzSumo Enterprise Application. These keywords were chosen based on medical topics derived from surveys administered to medical practitioners. The search parameters were confined to 2 distinct date ranges: (1) January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021; (2) January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022. Our searches were specifically limited to web pages in the Polish language and filtered by the specified date ranges. The analysis encompassed 161 web pages retrieved in 2021 and 105 retrieved in 2022. Each web page underwent scrutiny by a seasoned doctor to assess its credibility, aligning with evidence-based medicine standards. Furthermore, we gathered data on social media engagements associated with the web pages, considering platforms such as Facebook, Pinterest, Reddit, and Twitter. ResultsIn 2022, the prevalence of unreliable information related to COVID-19 saw a noteworthy decline compared to 2021. Specifically, the percentage of noncredible web pages discussing COVID-19 and general vaccinations decreased from 57% (43/76) to 24% (6/25) and 42% (10/25) to 30% (3/10), respectively. However, during the same period, there was a considerable uptick in the dissemination of untrustworthy content on social media pertaining to other medical topics. The percentage of noncredible web pages covering cholesterol, statins, and cardiology rose from 11% (3/28) to 26% (9/35) and from 18% (5/28) to 26% (6/23), respectively. ConclusionsEfforts undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic to curb the dissemination of misinformation seem to have yielded positive results. Nevertheless, our analysis suggests that these interventions need to be consistently implemented across both established and emerging medical subjects. It appears that as interest in the pandemic waned, other topics gained prominence, essentially “filling the vacuum” and necessitating ongoing measures to address misinformation across a broader spectrum of health-related subjects..
| Medienart: |
E-Artikel |
|---|
| Erscheinungsjahr: |
2024 |
|---|---|
| Erschienen: |
2024 |
| Enthalten in: |
Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:26, p e48130 |
|---|---|
| Enthalten in: |
Journal of Medical Internet Research - 26, p e48130(2024) |
| Sprache: |
Englisch |
|---|
| Beteiligte Personen: |
Małgorzata Chlabicz [VerfasserIn] |
|---|
| Links: |
doi.org [kostenfrei] |
|---|
| Themen: |
Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics |
|---|
| doi: |
10.2196/48130 |
|---|
| funding: |
|
|---|---|
| Förderinstitution / Projekttitel: |
|
| PPN (Katalog-ID): |
DOAJ097310999 |
|---|
| LEADER | 01000naa a22002652 4500 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | DOAJ097310999 | ||
| 003 | DE-627 | ||
| 005 | 20240413181323.0 | ||
| 007 | cr uuu---uuuuu | ||
| 008 | 240413s2024 xx |||||o 00| ||eng c | ||
| 024 | 7 | |a 10.2196/48130 |2 doi | |
| 035 | |a (DE-627)DOAJ097310999 | ||
| 035 | |a (DE-599)DOAJe3d363f1c4d94d44a084f2cd8eac8b62 | ||
| 040 | |a DE-627 |b ger |c DE-627 |e rakwb | ||
| 041 | |a eng | ||
| 050 | 0 | |a R858-859.7 | |
| 050 | 0 | |a RA1-1270 | |
| 100 | 0 | |a Małgorzata Chlabicz |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 245 | 1 | 0 | |a Medical Misinformation in Polish on the World Wide Web During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period: Infodemiology Study |
| 264 | 1 | |c 2024 | |
| 336 | |a Text |b txt |2 rdacontent | ||
| 337 | |a Computermedien |b c |2 rdamedia | ||
| 338 | |a Online-Ressource |b cr |2 rdacarrier | ||
| 520 | |a BackgroundAlthough researchers extensively study the rapid generation and spread of misinformation about the novel coronavirus during the pandemic, numerous other health-related topics are contaminating the internet with misinformation that have not received as much attention. ObjectiveThis study aims to gauge the reach of the most popular medical content on the World Wide Web, extending beyond the confines of the pandemic. We conducted evaluations of subject matter and credibility for the years 2021 and 2022, following the principles of evidence-based medicine with assessments performed by experienced clinicians. MethodsWe used 274 keywords to conduct web page searches through the BuzzSumo Enterprise Application. These keywords were chosen based on medical topics derived from surveys administered to medical practitioners. The search parameters were confined to 2 distinct date ranges: (1) January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021; (2) January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022. Our searches were specifically limited to web pages in the Polish language and filtered by the specified date ranges. The analysis encompassed 161 web pages retrieved in 2021 and 105 retrieved in 2022. Each web page underwent scrutiny by a seasoned doctor to assess its credibility, aligning with evidence-based medicine standards. Furthermore, we gathered data on social media engagements associated with the web pages, considering platforms such as Facebook, Pinterest, Reddit, and Twitter. ResultsIn 2022, the prevalence of unreliable information related to COVID-19 saw a noteworthy decline compared to 2021. Specifically, the percentage of noncredible web pages discussing COVID-19 and general vaccinations decreased from 57% (43/76) to 24% (6/25) and 42% (10/25) to 30% (3/10), respectively. However, during the same period, there was a considerable uptick in the dissemination of untrustworthy content on social media pertaining to other medical topics. The percentage of noncredible web pages covering cholesterol, statins, and cardiology rose from 11% (3/28) to 26% (9/35) and from 18% (5/28) to 26% (6/23), respectively. ConclusionsEfforts undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic to curb the dissemination of misinformation seem to have yielded positive results. Nevertheless, our analysis suggests that these interventions need to be consistently implemented across both established and emerging medical subjects. It appears that as interest in the pandemic waned, other topics gained prominence, essentially “filling the vacuum” and necessitating ongoing measures to address misinformation across a broader spectrum of health-related subjects. | ||
| 653 | 0 | |a Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics | |
| 653 | 0 | |a Public aspects of medicine | |
| 700 | 0 | |a Aleksandra Nabożny |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 0 | |a Jolanta Koszelew |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 0 | |a Wojciech Łaguna |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 0 | |a Anna Szpakowicz |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 0 | |a Paweł Sowa |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 0 | |a Wojciech Budny |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 0 | |a Katarzyna Guziejko |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 0 | |a Magdalena Róg-Makal |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 0 | |a Sławomir Pancewicz |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 0 | |a Maciej Kondrusik |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 0 | |a Piotr Czupryna |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 0 | |a Beata Cudowska |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 0 | |a Dariusz Lebensztejn |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 0 | |a Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 0 | |a Adam Wierzbicki |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 0 | |a Karol A Kamiński |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 773 | 0 | 8 | |i In |t Journal of Medical Internet Research |d JMIR Publications, 2003 |g 26, p e48130(2024) |w (DE-627)DOAJ00009143X |x 14388871 |7 nnns |
| 773 | 1 | 8 | |g volume:26, p e48130 |g year:2024 |
| 856 | 4 | 0 | |u https://doi.org/10.2196/48130 |z kostenfrei |
| 856 | 4 | 0 | |u https://doaj.org/article/e3d363f1c4d94d44a084f2cd8eac8b62 |z kostenfrei |
| 856 | 4 | 0 | |u https://www.jmir.org/2024/1/e48130 |z kostenfrei |
| 856 | 4 | 2 | |u https://doaj.org/toc/1438-8871 |y Journal toc |z kostenfrei |
| 912 | |a GBV_USEFLAG_A | ||
| 912 | |a GBV_DOAJ | ||
| 951 | |a AR | ||
| 952 | |d 26, p e48130 |j 2024 | ||