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iHealthFacts.ie: Co-funding to evaluate the lessons learned on approaches to infodemic management from the iHealthFacts intervention

Good healthcare requires people to make informed, evidence-based decisions about their health. However, many people are overwhelmed with information, particularly information about what they can do to improve or protect health. Increasing amounts of health information now spread faster and further through multiple channels, including the web, social media, instant messaging, television and radio. Much of this information is unreliable. Unreliable information leads to poorly informed choices, under-or over-use of health interventions (or treatments) and avoidable waste and human suffering.
Our aim is to further develop, use and evaluate the iHealthFacts initiative in mitigating and protecting against misinformation and its harmful effects.
We will create and share accurate and reliable information with target audiences to increase awareness and strengthen the resilience of individuals and communities to misinformation.
Our project consists of four complementary work packages (WPs):
WP1: Identify and prioritise questions the public have about the effects of health care interventions (health claims), answer questions and share answers with the public in a meaningful, accessible way.
WP2: Evaluate the effectiveness of alternative ways of communicating answers to health claims.
WP3: Maximise and evaluate the reach and engagement of iHealthFacts, including with people from underserved and marginalised communities.
WP4: Explore the public’s and health science communicators’ awareness of and attitudes and behaviour toward fact-checking sites
Reliable and trustworthy information is a key determinant of beliefs, attitudes and ultimately, behaviour. Yet, citizens in every country are exposed to misinformation and addressing it is a critically important challenge. Addressing the challenge means that we must be able to communicate and exchange information and respond to our communities. The iHealthFacts initiative, and the project we outline here, has the potential to mitigate and protect against misinformation and its harmful effects.