“Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine causes autism.” “The dangers of taking statins outweigh their added benefits as a highly effective tool to stop heart attacks.” “The flu shot triggered me to get the flu.”
These are just a couple of examples of items that have been scientifically disproved, but the spread of health-related misinformation continues to pose a true threat to people and communities. In truth, we know that the spread of misinformation in general—and health-related disinformation in particular—is nevertheless on the rise.
A lot more than 70% of people today have been exposed to health-related or wellness misinformation in 2022, according to a study by GoodRk. Of these who have been exposed, practically half are unsure of their capability to distinguish involving correct wellness data and misinformation. In addition, social media was cited as the most prevalent supply of misinformation.
Hospitals and wellness systems can play an significant function in making certain that individuals have trusted, correct and science-primarily based data to enable them make the finest wellness care choices for themselves and their loved ones.
Combating misinformation and arming hospitals and wellness systems with the sources to do so is an significant priority for the AHA.
1 of the approaches we do this is by participating in the Coalition for Trust in Overall health and Science. Launched final month, the coalition, which involves 50 national organizations, seeks to combat misinformation and enable Americans make science-primarily based wellness choices for themselves, their households and communities.
This broad alliance represents hospitals, medical doctors, nurses, psychologists, bioethicists and lots of other varieties of wellness pros. We’ve joined forces to confront a prevalent enemy, the “infodemic” that is impacting true-planet wellness.
We hope the coalition’s perform will be a multiplier for the actions the AHA has been major for some time to counter the dangers of misinformation and present people with medically and scientifically sound data to inform their wellness care choices.
For instance, final month we collaborated with the American Healthcare Association and the American Nurses Association on a new public service announcement encouraging people to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 when eligible to safeguard themselves, their households and communities from really serious illness and death.
The PSA continues the association’s 3-year collaboration to include the spread of COVID-19 and safeguard individuals, communities and healthcare workers by spreading the message that updated boosters and other vaccines against COVID-19 are secure, productive and advised for everybody six months and older.
Our caregivers are amongst the finest in the planet at repairing the physique and restoring wellness to individuals. Rebuilding trust is just as significant. And caregivers are amongst the most trusted voices, according to public customer surveys.
AHA is committed to operating with our partners to highlight the truth about risky misinformation of any type in public wellness and replace it with information and science that can save lives and strengthen wellness for all.