Toolkit for tackling misinformation on noncommunicable disease : forum for tackling misinformation on health and NCDs

Abstract

Noncommunicable disease related, and health misinformation is a growing concern as more and more individuals obtain their health information from digital venues such as search engines or social media platforms. While increased access to information on health issues can be seen as generally positive, the spread of inaccurate medical information is of course problematic. It can lead to harmful lifestyle or dietary choices, self-medication, the abandonment of medical treatment and incorrect diagnoses. As such, three meetings were hosted to discuss the topic with representatives from Member States, the media and social media sectors, and civil society. The outcomes of these meetings are reflected in this Toolkit. This Toolkit was drafted following these meetings, and includes the concerns, challenges and conclusions shared during those conversations by all discussion partners. It is the product of an intense iterative process, of arguments between competing views and interests, and of the constant upgrades in available knowledge. It reflects, to the extent possible, the developments that occurred after the meetings, but it should be read with the knowledge that it does not presume to contain everything there is to know about this topic.