Health Sciences Library to Host Seminar on Combating Health Misinformation

The Health Sciences Library System is tackling the growing challenge of health misinformation with an upcoming virtual seminar designed to help participants identify and address false health information circulating online. The online session, “Identifying and Combating Health Misinformation,” will take place on February 11 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

As digital platforms continue to serve as primary information sources for health matters, the proliferation of misleading or outright false health claims has become a significant public health concern. According to recent studies by the World Health Organization, health misinformation can spread six times faster than accurate information on social media platforms, making this initiative particularly timely.

“Health misinformation is a widespread problem affecting both established health topics and emerging health crises,” noted one of the seminar organizers. “While some questionable health information is easily recognizable, much of it is sophisticated and can be difficult to distinguish from legitimate medical advice.”

The 90-minute session will provide participants with comprehensive strategies to evaluate health information critically and develop appropriate responses when encountering misinformation. The seminar will be particularly valuable for healthcare professionals, educators, students in health-related fields, and anyone who regularly consumes or shares health information online.

Led by a team of research and instructional librarians including Rachel Suppok, Rebekah Miller, and Kelsey Cowles, the program will cover several key learning objectives. Participants will learn to define various types of health misinformation, understand the mechanisms that facilitate its rapid spread online, develop skills to evaluate information sources critically, and implement effective communication strategies to counter false health claims.

The timing of this initiative coincides with growing concerns from public health officials about the impact of misinformation on health outcomes. The U.S. Surgeon General has previously identified health misinformation as an “urgent threat” requiring attention from multiple sectors, including educational institutions.

Health misinformation has shown tangible consequences in recent years, from vaccine hesitancy to the promotion of unproven treatments for various conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, misinformation about treatments and preventive measures contributed to public confusion and, in some cases, harmful health decisions.

Experts suggest that building information literacy skills is a crucial component in addressing this challenge. The Health Sciences Library System’s seminar represents part of a broader effort among academic institutions to equip communities with the tools needed to navigate an increasingly complex information environment.

The virtual format of the seminar reflects ongoing adaptations to educational delivery methods, making specialized training accessible to a wider audience regardless of location. Participants will receive a Zoom link after registration, allowing them to join from any location with internet access.

Those interested in participating can register through the Health Sciences Library System website. While the seminar is free to attend, pre-registration is required to receive access information.

As digital platforms continue to evolve and information spreads with unprecedented speed, initiatives like this seminar represent an important step in promoting information literacy in the health domain. By equipping participants with practical skills to identify and respond to misinformation, the Health Sciences Library System aims to contribute to a more informed public discourse around health issues.