Prevalence Of Misinformation Research Articles

An In-Depth Bibliometric Exploration of Research on “Bullshit” Communication

Scholarly interest in unclarifiable unclarity, commonly referred to as bullshit (BS) communication, has been steadily growing, driven by events such as recent US presidential campaigns, the COVID-19 pandemic, the spread of conspiracy theories, and the prevalence of misinformation on social media. However, until now, there has been no comprehensive review of research in this domain. This bibliometric study analyzes 249 documents published from 1971 to 2023, sourced from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Our primary goal is to map the research landscape on BS communication within organizational contexts. Employing techniques such as co-citation and collaboration network analyses, keyword co-occurrence analysis, and thematic mapping, the study reveals the fundamental social, intellectual, and conceptual structures shaping the knowledge base while highlighting key topics and themes in BS communication research. Beyond identifying these central themes, the study also critically evaluates prior research and offers recommendations for future investigations.

Teaching to Fear: How Islamophobia is Perpetuated in Criminology and Adjacent Disciplines

Throughout American law enforcement history, a persistent pattern has emerged, emphasizing marginalized groups. This emphasis extends to higher education, notably seen in the proliferation of Terrorism and Homeland Security courses post-9/11 in criminology and related fields. These courses predominantly focus on the ‘Islamic threat’ to America, reflecting broader biases in counter-terrorism policies. Such biases overlook other forms of terrorism, especially right-wing extremism. We analyzed 382 syllabi from American higher education institutions to assess this bias. Our analysis reveals a concerning prevalence of misinformation in these courses. Educators hold a pivotal role in rectifying this imbalance, shaping the perceptions of future criminologists. Addressing this bias is crucial to providing a comprehensive understanding of terrorism threats and acknowledging all forms of extremism equally. It underscores the urgency for educators to present accurate and inclusive portrayals of terrorism in their curriculum.

Navigating the infodemic maze: Does information literacy reduce the infodemic?

The objective of this study was to examine how information literacy can aid in infodemic management in the context of university students in a developing country. A printed survey questionnaire was employed to collect data on information literacy and infodemic management from a sample population consisting of university students. A total of 300 responses were collected and analysed, and both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The results brought about a wide set of findings. The study found that students in the Department of Information Science and Library Management at the University of Dhaka exhibited a high level of awareness of information literacy and the COVID-19 infodemic. Despite the prevalence of misinformation and disinformation related to COVID-19, the students did not tend towards unreliable sources of information. The study examined the positive effect of information literacy on infodemic management through a multiple regression analysis. The empirical findings can aid in navigating the spread of misinformation and disinformation in the context of other developing countries.

Skin and Digital–The 2024 Narrative

The global burden of skin diseases affects over 3 billion individuals, posing important public health challenges worldwide, with profound impacts in both high-income and low-income and middle-income countries. These challenges are exacerbated by widespread disparities in access to dermatologic care and the prevalence of misinformation. This article, derived from the Skin and Digital Summit at the International Master Course on Aging Science critically evaluates how digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, teledermatology, and large language models can bridge these access gaps. It explores practical applications and case studies demonstrating the impact of these technologies in various settings, with a particular focus on adapting solutions to meet the diverse needs of low-income and middle-income countries. In addition, the narrative highlights the ongoing conversation within the dermatologic community about the role of digital advances in health care, emphasizing that this discussion is dynamic and the one that is continuously evolving. Dermatologists play an essential role in this transition, integrating digital tools into mainstream care to complement a patient-centered, culturally sensitive approach. The article advocates for a globally coordinated digital response that not only addresses current disparities in skin health care but also promotes equitable access to digital health resources, making dermatologic care more representative of all skin types and accessible worldwide.

News and misinformation consumption: A temporal comparison across European countries.

The Internet and social media have transformed the information landscape, democratizing content access and production. While making information easily accessible, these platforms can also act as channels for spreading misinformation, posing crucial societal challenges. To address this, understanding news consumption patterns and unraveling the complexities of the online information environment are essential. Previous studies highlight polarization and misinformation in online discussions, but many focus on specific topics or contexts, often overlooking comprehensive cross-country and cross-topic analyses. However, the dynamics of debates, misinformation prevalence, and the efficacy of countermeasures are intrinsically tied to socio-cultural contexts. This work aims to bridge this gap by exploring information consumption patterns across four European countries over three years. Analyzing the Twitter activity of news outlets in France, Germany, Italy, and the UK, this study seeks to shed light on how topics of European significance resonate across these nations and the role played by misinformation sources. The results spotlight that while reliable sources predominantly shape the information landscape, unreliable content persists across all countries and topics. Though most users favor trustworthy sources, a small percentage predominantly consumes content from questionable sources, with even fewer maintaining a mixed information diet. The cross-country comparison unravels disparities in audience overlap among news sources, the prevalence of misinformation, and the proportion of users relying on questionable sources. Such distinctions surface not only across countries but also within various topics. These insights underscore the pressing need for tailored studies, crucial in designing targeted and effective countermeasures against misinformation and extreme polarization in the digital space.

The Utilization of Twitter in The Anticipation of Covid-19 Hoax News in Yogyakarta City

The contemporary era of openness has exerted a significant influence on social media platforms, particularly Twitter. This is mostly due to the platform's ability to facilitate the expression of opinions and the rapid dissemination of news by individuals. The act of expressing opinions necessitates the inclusion of the need to substantiate the validity of the information being conveyed. Data-driven information can be substantiated and expressed. During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, a substantial amount of information pertaining to the coronavirus remains ambiguous or has yet to be definitively established. The prevalence of misinformation is on the rise due to individuals' acceptance and dissemination of false information without conducting thorough research to ascertain its veracity. Consequently, the dissemination of false coronavirus information on social media, particularly Twitter, has occurred.

Buyer Beware: Misinformation in the Healthcare Industry – What Can Clinicians Do?

In today's healthcare landscape, the exchange of medical information between physicians and industry is crucial for advancing knowledge and improving patient care. However, this collaboration also introduces challenges, including the potential for bias and misinformation. Amidst efforts to navigate the post-COVID-19 healthcare environment and maintain market competitiveness, the prevalence of misinformation has become increasingly evident (Ecker, 2022). This article explores the impact of misinformation in the medical industry, particularly concerning its drivers and persistence. Through an analysis of psychological and behavioral factors, the authors identify fear as a primary driver of bias, leading to the dissemination of inaccurate information (Tannenbaum, 2015). Additionally, deliberate efforts to manipulate narratives and facts contribute to the endurance of misinformation, posing significant risks to patient safety and healthcare integrity (Ecker, 2022). The authors highlight various methods employed to deliver misinformation, including social media, professional collaborations, and selective data sharing. These tactics obscure truth and hinder informed decision-making among healthcare practitioners (Rea, 2017). Despite the challenges posed by misinformation, the authors propose practical solutions for clinicians, emphasizing the importance of research, critical analysis, and collaboration with trusted sources to verify information and safeguard patient care (Wu, 2018). This comprehensive exploration of misinformation in the healthcare industry underscores the critical role of healthcare practitioners in combatting false narratives and ensuring the integrity of medical information. By equipping clinicians with the tools to discern truth from misinformation, this article aims to promote evidence-based practice and uphold the highest standards of patient care.

Issue-Based Politics in Kenya: Assessing the Underlying Factors, Progress Made, and Barriers

Over the last three decades, Kenya’s democratization journey has been marked by significant progress evidenced by the adoption of multiparty politics, new constitution promulgation in 2010, and institutionalization of key reforms in government and civil space. This formed a strong foundation for the entrenchment of issue-based politics as envisioned in Kenya Vision 2030’s Political Pillar that advocates for “a democratic political system that is issue-based, people-centered, result oriented and accountable to the public and viable political party systems guided by policy and ideological differences rather than region or ethnicity.” However, a litany of underlying issues and factors –have to a greater extent –been the cause of political violence majorly ethnic driven and thus dimming the prospects of transition of the country to issue-based politics away from ethnic-centered politics. This paper aims to discuss the underlying issues and triggers of political violence in Kenya, take stoke of progress made, and barriers in the advancement of issue-based politics. This study is premised on secondary data in form of journal articles, newspapers, occasional papers, online websites, and policy documents. Findings reveal that 1) Underlying issues and triggers of political violence include and are not limited to the multi-ethnic nature of Kenyan society, historical land injustices, political and socio-economic inequalities, politics of betrayal, revenge and hate speech 2) Kenya has made strides in actualizing issued based democracy through promotion of national parties anchored on ideologies, development of manifestos by various political parties, presidential debates by prospective candidates, undertaking civic voter education, conducting issue-based campaigns. 3) However, prevalence of misinformation, disinformation and propaganda, bribes, populism, poor governance and corruption, lack of political goodwill, seems to erode gains made in advancing issue-based politics. If Kenya promotes and natures a culture of issue-based politics then it will strengthen its democratic credentials.

64 TikTok as a Health Communication Platform in Pediatric Neuropsychology: Opportunities, Pitfalls, and Recommendations Moving Forward

Objective:Various forms of social media have been investigated as platforms for science and health communication, with a recent growing interest in TikTok. TikTok has more than one billion active users. Sixty-two percent of TikTok users are under the age of 29, making it a platform of particular interest when considering the impact of social media content dissemination in pediatric neuropsychology. Personal communication suggests that children, adolescents, and young adults internationally reference specific information from TikToks about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), tic disorder, and specific learning disorders in the context of clinical neuropsychological assessment. Despite the emerging prevalence of TikTok observed clinically and discussed informally among clinicians, there has yet to be a synthesis of available empirical information of TikTok as a health communication platform for discussing neurodevelopmentally relevant conditions.Participants and Methods:A systematic review of research regarding TikTok and neurodevelopmentally relevant conditions was conducted using PRISMA guidelines. The following databases were searched: Ovid MEDLINE (to 20 July 2022), PsycINFO (to 20 July 2022), and PubMed (to 20 July 2022) using search terms TikTok AND ADHD OR autism OR tic OR learning disorder. Searches using search terms TikTok AND learning disability OR dyslexia OR dysgraphia OR dyscalculia were also conducted but were excluded as they yielded no results. Articles were eligible for inclusion if they presented original data (e.g., case series, descriptive analyses, etc.) related to information about neurodevelopmentally relevant conditions on TikTok. A final sample of 5 original papers met criteria for inclusion.Results:The systematic review sample included a mixture of clinical case series and empirical analyses using primary data from TikTok. Across publications, there was an emphasis on the prevalence of misinformation about disorders on TikTok, the frequency of atypical presentations of neurodevelopmental disorders on TikTok, and the potential for an iatrogenic impact on children and adolescents who view TikTok videos.Conclusions:Despite the increasing frequency with which patients access TikTok for health-related information, there is a relative dearth of published research on TikTok regarding neurodevelopmentally relevant conditions. This is in contrast to other health-related areas (e.g., there are a far greater number of published articles on TikTok and COVID-19 and dermatology compared to neuropsychological disorders). These findings suggest a missed opportunity for researchers and clinicians alike to engage with TikTok. Based on clinical experience and a review of the available literature, the following recommendations are provided and will be presented in-depth: 1.Clinicians should gain familiarity with virally spread information via TikTok, particularly as it relates to symptoms and presentations of neuropsychological and neurodevelopmental conditions.2.Clinicians should explicitly assess for knowledge content and source regarding neuropsychological and neurodevelopmental conditions during intake and/or feedback in order to address misinformation and myths, validate lived experiences, and develop rapport with patients.3.Clinicians and researchers should consider a strengths-based approach to TikTok usage that highlights the value of sharing resources, building community, and decreasing stigma.4.Clinicians and researchers should be aware of information shared via TikTok as a potential concern for test security.

Evidence-based interventions to reduce maternal malnutrition in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review.

Despite remarkable strides in global efforts to reduce maternal mortality, low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) continue to grapple with a disproportionate burden of maternal mortality, with malnutrition emerging as a significant contributing factor to this enduring challenge. Shockingly, malnourished women face a mortality risk that is twice as high as their well-nourished counterparts, and a staggering 95% of maternal deaths in 2020 occurred within LMICs. The critical importance of addressing maternal malnutrition in resource-constrained settings cannot be overstated, as compelling research studies have demonstrated that such efforts could potentially save thousands of lives. However, the landscape is marred by a scarcity of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) specifically tailored for pregnant individuals aimed at combatting maternal malnutrition and reducing mortality rates. It is against this backdrop that our study endeavors to dissect the feasibility, adoption, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness of EBIs designed to combat maternal malnutrition. Our comprehensive search encompassed eight prominent databases covering the period from 2003 to 2022 in LMICs. We began our study with a comprehensive search across multiple databases, yielding a total of 149 studies. From this initial pool, we eliminated duplicate entries and the remaining studies underwent a thorough screening process resulting in the identification of 63 full-text articles that aligned with our predefined inclusion criteria. The meticulous full-text review left us with a core selection of six articles that shed light on interventions primarily centered around supplementation. They underscored a critical issue -the limited understanding of effective implementation in these countries, primarily attributed to inadequate monitoring and evaluation of interventions and insufficient training of healthcare professionals. Moreover, our findings emphasize the pivotal role of contextual factors, such as cultural nuances, public trust in healthcare, the prevalence of misinformation, and concerns regarding potential adverse effects of interventions, which profoundly influence the successful implementation of these programs. While the EBIs have shown promise in reducing maternal malnutrition, their true potential for feasibility, adoption, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability hinges on their integration into comprehensive programs addressing broader issues like food insecurity and the prevention of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

DEVELOPMENT OF MEDIA COMPETENCE OF STUDENTS IN PRACTICAL UNDERGRADUATE CONDITIONS

The development of media competence among students in practical undergraduate conditions is crucial in the digital era. This article explores the significance of media competence, its components, and strategies for fostering it in undergraduate education. Through a mixed-methods research approach, the findings reveal the positive impact of practical assignments, collaborative learning, and media literacy education on the development of media competence. Challenges such as limited resources and the prevalence of misinformation are also identified. Recommendations include integrating practical assignments, providing access to resources, and offering media literacy workshops. The development of media competence equips students with essential skills for criticalmedia analysis, digital literacy, and responsible digital citizenship.

Fact-Checking Cancer Information on Social Media in Japan: Retrospective Study Using Twitter.

The widespread use of social media has made it easier for patients to access cancer information. However, a large amount of misinformation and harmful information that could negatively impact patients' decision-making is also disseminated on social media platforms. We aimed to determine the actual amount of misinformation and harmful information as well as trends in the dissemination of cancer-related information on Twitter, a representative social media platform. Our findings can support decision-making among Japanese patients with cancer. Using the Twitter app programming interface, we extracted tweets containing the term "cancer" in Japanese that were posted between August and September of 2022. The eligibility criteria were the cancer-related tweets with the following information: (1) reference to the occurrence or prognosis of cancer, (2) recommendation or nonrecommendation of actions, (3) reference to the course of cancer treatment or adverse events, (4) results of cancer research, and (5) other cancer-related knowledge and information. Finally, we selected the top 100 tweets with the highest number of "likes." For each tweet, 2 independent reviewers evaluated whether the information was factual or misinformation, and whether it was harmful or safe with the reasons for the decisions on the misinformation and harmful tweets. Additionally, we examined the frequency of information dissemination using the number of retweets for the top 100 tweets and investigated trends in the dissemination of information. The extracted tweets totaled 69,875. Of the top 100 cancer-related tweets with the most "likes" that met the eligibility criteria, 44 (44%) contained misinformation, 31 (31%) contained harmful information, and 30 (30%) contained both misinformation and harmful information. Misinformation was described as Unproven (29/94, 40.4%), Disproven (19/94, 20.2%), Inappropriate application (4/94, 4.3%), Strength of evidence mischaracterized (14/94, 14.9%), Misleading (18/94, 18%), and Other misinformation (1/94, 1.1%). Harmful action was described as Harmful action (9/59, 15.2%), Harmful inaction (43/59, 72.9%), Harmful interactions (3/59, 5.1%), Economic harm (3/59, 5.1%), and Other harmful information (1/59, 1.7%). Harmful information was liked more often than safe information (median 95, IQR 43-1919 vs 75.0 IQR 43-10,747; P=.04). The median number of retweets for the leading 100 tweets was 13.5 (IQR 0-2197). Misinformation was retweeted significantly more often than factual information (median 29.0, IQR 0-502 vs 7.5, IQR 0-2197; P=.01); harmful information was also retweeted significantly more often than safe information (median 35.0, IQR 0-502 vs 8.0, IQR 0-2197; P=.002). It is evident that there is a prevalence of misinformation and harmful information related to cancer on Twitter in Japan and it is crucial to increase health literacy and awareness regarding this issue. Furthermore, we believe that it is important for government agencies and health care professionals to continue providing accurate medical information to support patients and their families in making informed decisions.

The Role Of Indonesia's Defense Diplomacy In Supporting Cooperation With China To Overcome Covid-19 Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic left many nations in a dilemma to protect their respective countries. Indonesia carried out diplomacy with various countries that had the capability to help Indonesia overcome the pandemic through various diplomatic channels, one of which was China, even though it closed itself at the start of the pandemic. The involvement of military in carrying out the action shows the role of defense diplomacy in the cooperation between Indonesia and China to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. The problem being studied is the role of Indonesia's defense diplomacy in supporting Indonesia-China cooperation in overcoming the pandemic; along with the contributing and inhibiting factors in the cooperation. The aim of the research is to analyze the role of Indonesian defense diplomacy in Indonesia-China cooperation along with the contributing and inhibiting factors in this cooperation. The research method used is qualitative method. Primary data was obtained through individual interviews and secondary data through library research. The results revealed that Indonesia's defense diplomacy played a role in supporting the activities of the Ministry of Health, and supporting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The contributing factors are China's help during the pandemic and military utilization in pandemic relief. The inhibiting factors are the prevalence of misinformation, the lack of preparedness in dealing with health threats, and the facilities, personnel and communication that are not yet optimal.

Medical Misinformation: A Need For Focussed Designs.

Respected Editor, The latest coronavirus pandemic has brought the issue of medical misinformation to the forefront of global scientific discussion. Spurred by this interest, many studies have been released to assess knowledge and awareness surrounding COVID-19. This is especially important in our country, Pakistan, where there is a relatively low literacy level and a weakened healthcare infrastructure.1 The prevalence of misinformation and myths among the public easily leads to the stigmatization of victims, increased rates of complications, and higher transmission rates. This phenomenon was observed worldwide through studies which polled participants regarding their understanding and beliefs surrounding COVID-19. After all, it is reasonable to conclude that an individual with the misconception that medical masks are sufficient without social distancing can contribute to transmission rates through ill-advised behaviors.2 Some studies have measured COVID-19 related knowledge in medical students and allied health students respectively, but no studies which we could locate compared the rates of misinformation between medical, allied health, and non-medical students overall.3 Similarly, many studies have attempted to survey the population for commonly held myths related to various illnesses even beyond COVID-19 among the public,4 however; very few have introduced a variable against which to compare correlations. Therefore, the prevalence of misinformation is practically established by the current literature. On the other hand, the cause of misinformation has seldom been explored. To start, more correlation studies may be undertaken with purposeful selection of groups to unearth possible trends in relation to each other. For example, a survey which assesses the prevalence of misinformation among medical and allied health students should also include non-medical students. Such a design would better elucidate whether a trend in the prevalence of misinformation exists, compared to the level of medically-related education. In this hypothetical model, one would expect medical students and allied health students to exhibit lower rates of medical misinformation compared to non-medical students in accordance with the hypothesis that a lack of medical knowledge may contribute to medical misinformation. More purposeful study designs would enable us to breach the current limits of our understanding of medical misinformation and thereby reduce the proliferation of social stigmas, morbidity, and transmission of multiple illnesses. Such studies would enable the proprietors of medical information and health-outreach initiatives to become better guided in their effort to spread helpful information among the public.

COMPREHENDING THE CHARACTERISTICS AND EFFECTS OF THE HEALTH MISINFORMATION - A STUDY AMONG SOCIAL MEDIA USERS

Social media has become the most accessible and considered to be trustworthy media for accessing health related information with immediacy. This has led to the creation, development and spread of misinformation too. Prevalence of misinformation can be detrimental to the quality of life and sometimes may lead to even death and hence it becomes more essential to understand the complexities of dealing with such misinformation. Being aware of the menace of the situation, we also recognize the need to fight against misinformation. For this purpose, we need to focus on categorization of the main topics of health misinformation and an all-inclusive depiction of their pervasiveness on various social media, the influence it has on the minds and health behavior of people. Such a detailed analysis will enable us to develop future digital policy action plans towards misinformation. Against this background the objectives of the study are to identify the characteristics of health misinformation on social media; and the factors that influence the people’s belief and behavior towards health misinformation circulated online. A descriptive survey with convenience sampling technique among social media users will be applied for understanding how various people perceive and are susceptible to the problems of misinformation. Proper understanding of the features of health misinformation in the social media will facilitate us to focus on the measured ways to eradicate the fatal impact of misinformation. Our perceptions on the misinformation that prevails in the fields of health and emergency management will improve through the data gathered and presented in this study.

COVID-19 coverage from six network and cable news sources in the United States: Representation of misinformation, correction, and portrayals of severity.

The COVID-19 pandemic in the United States is marked by divisions in perceptions of disease severity as well as misperceptions about the virus and vaccine that vary along ideological and political party lines. Perceptual differences may be due to differences in the information about the virus that individuals are exposed to within their own identity-affirming ideological news bubbles. This content analysis of six different national network transcripts highlights differences in coverage of severity, and the prevalence of misinformation and its correction that are consistent with previously established preferred news channels of conservatives/Republicans and liberals/Democrats and their perceptions and misperceptions about the pandemic. Results contribute to the growing body of country-specific COVID-19 media studies that allow for comparisons across nations with different cultures and media systems, as these factors play a pivotal role in national responses and experiences.

Enhancing Government Communication Strategies for Effective Health In-formation and Public Health Education

Effective government communication is pivotal in disseminating health information and education to the public, shaping public perceptions, and influencing behavior change. Government agencies play a central role in disseminating critical health information, shaping public perceptions, and fostering behavioral change. This research investigates the multifaceted landscape of government communication strategies within the context of public health. Through an analysis of trust and credibility, messaging effectiveness, challenges related to misinformation, community and stakeholder engagement, and lessons learned, this study provides valuable insights into the strengths and challenges of government health communication. The research reveals that trust in government health sources remains a cornerstone of effective communication, necessitating transparency, responsiveness, and credibility preservation. Clear and accessible messaging emerges as a linchpin for motivating positive health behaviors, with implications for public compliance with guidelines and recommendations. The prevalence of misinformation on digital platforms underscores the urgency of addressing this issue collaboratively, demanding proactive strategies and media literacy promotion. Collaboration with community organizations and stakeholders, coupled with public participation, contributes to the tailoring of health messages and the cultivation of trust among diverse populations. Lessons learned underscore the need for real-time adaptation, proactive strategies to combat misinformation, empowerment of the public through health literacy, and a commitment to transparency. In conclusion, this research offers a roadmap for government agencies seeking to enhance their health communication strategies. The policy implications highlight the importance of prioritizing clarity and accessibility in messaging, fostering partnerships, combating misinformation, building trust, empowering the public, and engaging in real-time monitoring and adaptation. As we navigate the dynamic landscape of health communication, this study reaffirms the pivotal role of government agencies in shaping healthier, more informed, and resilient communities.

Clinicians’ experiences with patients with cancer or their families who endorse medical misinformation.

11042 Background: Medical misinformation causes delays in cancer care, forgoing of treatment, economic harms, potentially toxic effects, and harmful medical interactions with standard curative treatments. Previous literature has examined patients’ traits and beliefs. However, effectively caring for patients with cancer who endorse medical misinformation also requires better understanding the experiences, competencies, and concerns of the clinicians who treat them. We conducted an IRB approved study of physicians and advanced practice providers at a large cancer center. Methods: We surveyed clinicians about following themes: i) prevalence of misinformation, ii) attitudes towards patients endorsing misinformation, iii) strategies and competence, iv) resources to help them successfully address patients. Results: 87 clinicians responded to the survey. The median response was 15% of patients endorse claims that are false or misleading about standard-of-care cancer treatments and 20% endorse claims that overstate the benefits or understate the risks of unconventional treatments. The most common misinformation concerned herbs and supplements. Clinicians ranked provides hope and poor medical literacy as the top reasons for why their patients endorse medical misinformation followed by distrust in conventional medicine, cultural factors, and religiosity. The primary attitude clinicians project to patients when they request unconventional treatments was Openness/Equanimity (75.6%), Curiosity (43.9%), Skepticism (18.3%), Disdain/Disappointment (0, 0.0%), Other (6.1%). The primary internal attitude clinicians experienced in these situations was Openness/Equanimity (25.6%), Skepticism (57.3%), Curiosity (40.2%), Disdain/Disappointment (22.0%), Other (6, 7.3%). When asked if they’d be open to a patient using a harmless unconventional treatment that had no evidence of therapeutic benefit, 17.1% said yes, 17.1% said no, and 65.9% said it depends. Correcting misinformation is difficult: 38.2% report success rates below 60% for correcting misinformation and 68.5% report success rates below 80%. Several factors contributed to low success: Only 26% said that they have enough time to adequately address patients who endorse misinformation. Moreover, 46.9% report insufficient resources, 65% claim insufficient training, and 51.3% claim insufficient institutional support. Conclusions: Many cancer care providers feel insufficiently trained and supported to address patients who endorse medical misinformation. Cancer care institutions must develop training and resources to help clinicians effectively address patients who endorse misinformation about their care.

Improving the agri-food biotechnology conversation: bridging science communication with science and technology studies.

At a time when agri-food biotechnologies are receiving a surge of investment, innovation, and public interest in the United States, it is common to hear both supporters and critics call for open and inclusive dialogue on the topic. Social scientists have a potentially important role to play in these discursive engagements, but the legacy of the intractable genetically modified (GM) food debate calls for some reflection regarding the best ways to shape the norms of that conversation. This commentary argues that agri-food scholars interested in promoting a more constructive agri-food biotechnology discussion could do so by blending key insights, as well as guarding against key shortcomings, from the fields of science communication and science and technology studies (STS). Science communication's collaborative and translational approach to the public understanding of science has proven pragmatically valuable to scientists in academia, government, and private industry, but it has too often remained wedded to deficit model approaches and struggled to explore deeper questions of public values and corporate power. STS's critical approach has highlighted the need for multi-stakeholder power-sharing and the integration of diverse knowledge systems into public engagement, but it has done little to grapple with the prevalence of misinformation in movements against GM foods and other agri-food biotechnologies. Ultimately, a better agri-food biotechnology conversation will require a strong foundation in scientific literacy as well as conceptual grounding in the social studies of science. The paper concludes by describing how, with attention to the structure, content, and style of public engagement in the agri-food biotechnology debates, social scientists can play a productive conversational role across a variety of academic, institutional, community-level, and mediated contexts.

Debunking Misinformation About Consumer Products: Effects on Beliefs and Purchase Behavior

The prevalence of misinformation has spurred various interested parties—regulators, the media, and competing firms—to debunk false claims in the marketplace. This research examines whether such debunking messages provided by these parties can impact consumer purchase behavior. If so, does debunking effectively correct consumers’ misinformed beliefs—an ideal outcome from a policy maker's perspective—or does it merely reinforce correct beliefs, as predicted by biased belief updating? With theory providing contradictory predictions, the authors design and implement a conjoint experiment that enables measurement of willingness to pay under exposure to real-world misinformation and debunking messages. Focusing on three ingredients in product categories where misinformation is prevalent (aluminum in deodorant, fluoride in toothpaste, and genetically modified organisms in food), the authors find that debunking plays an important role in mitigating the impact of misinformation. More specifically, debunking can attenuate the decrease in willingness to pay caused by misinformation by correcting misbeliefs, a promising finding for policy makers. The authors discuss the incentives for firms to debunk misinformation or to introduce new products that conform to misinformation.