WHO has created a forum for tackling misinformation on health and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
The WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases is bringing together a broad range of stakeholders in a series of meetings to gather the necessary expertise to tackle health disinformation and help build a toolkit of policy initiatives for the future.
Misinformation and disinformation on NCDs
Every day we are exposed to a huge amount of information and more and more people are looking for advice on health issues digitally via search engines and social media. While wider access to health information can be positive, the rapid spread of inaccurate facts on health topics can lead to serious consequences.
The abundance of information – some accurate and some not – that has come with the COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance on health issues. Misinformation, which is the unintentional spreading of false information, as well as disinformation, created with the intention of spreading false information for profit or causing harm, have proven to be very dangerous to public health.
It is clear that misinformation can influence people’s decisions on health. However, although NCDs are an area where behaviour and its determinants play a crucial role, the impact specifically related to NCDs has not yet been taken up. To address this issue, WHO/Europe is launching a project to bring together different parts of society to share innovative practices and work together on policy initiatives to tackle misinformation on NCDs and associated risk factors.
Even though misinformation and disinformation on risk factors associated with NCDs existed before the pandemic, with false announcements of the alleged beneficial characteristics of alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets or the use of tobacco reappearing in the media at alarming rates, the amount of misinformation surrounding NCDs has increased substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“False and inaccurate information related to the risk factors for noncommunicable diseases is a huge challenge,” says Dr Nino Berdzuli, Director of the Division of Country Health Programmes at the WHO Regional Office for Europe. “And with people seeking dietary advice, lifestyle counselling, and even treatment online, this can lead to serious consequences. It reveals the importance of having trustworthy, evidence-based sources for information on health which the public can trust and that will allow informed and sound decisions.”
However, the experience gained in tackling the so-called infodemic related to COVID-19 has given valuable insights to address the spread of false information on risk factors connected to NCDs. Existing innovative practices can serve as a model to contribute to digital literacy around NCDs and help citizens to critically analyse health information online.
Bringing stakeholders together to tackle misinformation
In order to conduct further research into the key actions that can help individuals, community leaders, governments and the private sector to manage misinformation related to NCDs and associated risk factors, the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases is hosting a series of meetings aimed at discussing the topic with a broad range of stakeholders, collecting inputs from Member States, the media and social media sectors as well as civil society. The outcomes of the 3 meetings will contribute to create a joint triple entente of stakeholders, which will provide valuable inputs and help build a toolkit of policy initiatives for the future.
Debating robust policy and regulatory changes at the level of sources of health information, as well as a commitment for a strong investment in e-health literacy among the general population, can contribute to safer physical and digital spaces. This is in line with the core priorities of the WHO European Programme of Work 2020–2025, promoting health and well-being for all.
