8 November 2022, 13:00–14:00 Central European Time (virtual)
Critical public health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the monkeypox outbreak, have made infodemic management a high priority for decision-makers worldwide. WHO/Europe will be launching 2 publications in a webinar on 8 November 2022:
- “Advancing infodemic management in risk communication and community engagement in the WHO European Region”, implementation guidance, based on the latest evidence and practical experience with infodemic management in public health emergencies;
- “What are the historical roots of the COVID-19 infodemic? Lessons from the past. Health Evidence Network (HEN) synthesis report 77”, which examines the historical roots of the COVID-19 infodemic to set out lessons learned from past disease outbreaks.
Both documents will serve as a resource for policy-makers working to design and implement preparedness, readiness and response interventions that can mitigate the risks of infodemics.
The implementation guidance, published by the Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Unit of the Health Emergencies Division of WHO/Europe, provides practical ways to manage infodemics and shares best practices. It offers options and approaches that may be tailored to each situation and context. The theoretical framework of the document contextualizes core concepts, including rumours, mis- and disinformation, and information voids. Infodemic managers will find a description of the information ecosystem and operational support for steps to be taken across the emergency cycle (with its phases of prevention, preparedness, readiness, response and recovery).
While infodemics are often assumed to be a product of the internet era, their core components – overabundance of information, rapid spread of mis- and disinformation, and information voids – are not new. A historical perspective is key to better understanding the longer-term dynamics of knowledge production and sharing that underlie infodemics and the cultural contexts of the health challenges they pose. HEN 77 is WHO’s first example of using rigorous historical research methodologies to inform health policy considerations and is being published by WHO/Europe’s flagship initiative, the Behavioural and Cultural Insights (BCI) Unit, which aims to promote healthier behaviours by investing in behavioural and cultural insights.
The event – a tripartite collaboration of the RCCE, BCI and Digital Health units of WHO/Europe – will present findings from the 2 publications and will include reflections from experts and key stakeholders about the applicability of considerations in the publications in various contexts.