Mis/Disinformation and Health: Individual, National, and Global Implications

In today's digital age, the dissemination of information is faster and more pervasive than ever before. However, alongside valuable health information, individuals are increasingly exposed to disinformation and/or misinformation, which may significantly impact health-related decisions. Studies have suggested a correlation between the spread of inaccurate information and adverse public health outcomes, such as increased vaccine hesitancy and the propagation of non-scientific treatments. Despite ongoing efforts, there remains a substantial gap in understanding how to effectively counter these trends and foster an environment of trust in accurate health communication across the information, technology and policy domains.

This Research Topic aims to delve deeper into the sources, spread, and impacts of misinformation and disinformation on health decisions. We seek to examine where and how false or misleading health information influences individual and community health practices and policies. This collection will also discuss the factors influencing susceptibility to misinformation and/or disinformation, the decision-making process, and intervention strategies aimed at rectifying public misconceptions.

To further understand mis/disinformation and associated impacts on health, the scope of this collection will consider:

   •   The role of digital platforms (e.g., social media) and other channels in spreading health-related misinformation and/or disinformation

   •   The challenges of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in the health information environment

   •   The role of and relationship between the digital divide and digital literacy as factors related to mis/disinformation propagation, behavioral outcomes and societal/cultural trends and implications

   •   Psychological and sociocultural factors that make individuals more susceptible to mis/disinformation

   •   The link between mis/disinformation and trust, including the impact on healthcare provision, interactions between healthcare professionals and patients or the public, and approaches to training healthcare professionals to counter or manage these impacts

   •   The effects of misinformation and/or disinformation on public health, such as vaccine hesitancy, the spread of non-evidence-based treatments, the management of pandemics, delayed care provision, misallocation of health resources, effects on mental health, avoidance of beneficial treatment, or pursuit of detrimental treatment

   •   The role of social media in using predatory marketing techniques to communicate false claims concerning diet, fitness, or unregulated supplements

   •   Strategies for combating health misinformation and/or disinformation and the effectiveness of these strategies, including policies and legislation, awareness campaigns, promoting accurate information dissemination, and increasing digital and health literacy

   •   The impact of mis/disinformation on medical and health research, funding and clinical practice

   •   National security issues and implications of health-related mis/disinformation, including from maligned influence

Note: Papers considering mis/disinformation in other fields or information domains will be considered if the approaches or findings may be applicable to health and healthcare topics.

Submissions are encouraged across a spectrum of formats, including empirical research, theoretical analyses, policy assessments, and interdisciplinary studies. Together, we aim to illuminate the role of misinformation and/or disinformation on individual health decisions and help guide future policies and educational efforts toward fostering a well-informed and safer public.

All article types are welcome.


Topic Editor Professor Heidi Larson has received research grants from the Gates Foundation, Merck Group, GSK, the MacArthur Foundation and Moderna. All other Topic Editors declare no potential conflicts of interest.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Registered Report
• Review
• Specialty Grand Challenge
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: misinformation, disinformation, health decisions, health literacy, digital literacy, digital divide, trust, vaccine hesitancy, awareness, policy, legislation, national security

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.