Themes Surrounding COVID-19 and Its Infodemic: Qualitative Analysis of the COVID-19 Discussion on the Multidisciplinary Healthcare Information for All Health Forum
BackgroundHealthcare Information for All (HIFA) is a multidisciplinary global campaign consisting of more than 20,000 members worldwide committed to improving the availability and use of health care information in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). During the COVID-19...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2022-05-01
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| Series: | JMIR Infodemiology |
| Online Access: | https://infodemiology.jmir.org/2022/1/e30167 |
| _version_ | 1797735076086153216 |
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| author | Rakshith Gangireddy Stuti Chakraborty Neil Pakenham-Walsh Branavan Nagarajan Prerna Krishan Richard McGuire Gladson Vaghela Abi Sriharan |
| author_facet | Rakshith Gangireddy Stuti Chakraborty Neil Pakenham-Walsh Branavan Nagarajan Prerna Krishan Richard McGuire Gladson Vaghela Abi Sriharan |
| author_sort | Rakshith Gangireddy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundHealthcare Information for All (HIFA) is a multidisciplinary global campaign consisting of more than 20,000 members worldwide committed to improving the availability and use of health care information in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). During the COVID-19 pandemic, online HIFA forums saw a tremendous amount of discussion regarding the lack of information about COVID-19, the spread of misinformation, and the pandemic’s impact on different communities.
ObjectiveThis study aims to analyze the themes and perspectives shared in the COVID-19 discussion on English HIFA forums.
MethodsOver a period of 8 months, a qualitative thematic content analysis of the COVID-19 discussion on English HIFA forums was conducted. In total, 865 posts between January 24 and October 31, 2020, from 246 unique study participants were included and analyzed.
ResultsIn total, 6 major themes were identified: infodemic, health system, digital health literacy, economic consequences, marginalized peoples, and mental health. The geographical distribution of study participants involved in the discussion spanned across 46 different countries in every continent except Antarctica. Study participants’ professions included public health workers, health care providers, and researchers, among others. Study participants’ affiliation included nongovernment organizations (NGOs), commercial organizations, academic institutions, the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organization (WHO), and others.
ConclusionsThe themes that emerged from this analysis highlight personal recounts, reflections, suggestions, and evidence around addressing COVID-19 related misinformation and might also help to understand the timeline of information evolution, focus, and needs surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:53:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b1bec2fc08dc47f296a1d76270f388f6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2564-1891 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:53:48Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Infodemiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-b1bec2fc08dc47f296a1d76270f388f62023-08-28T21:45:07ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Infodemiology2564-18912022-05-0121e3016710.2196/30167Themes Surrounding COVID-19 and Its Infodemic: Qualitative Analysis of the COVID-19 Discussion on the Multidisciplinary Healthcare Information for All Health ForumRakshith Gangireddyhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0385-0882Stuti Chakrabortyhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5695-2049Neil Pakenham-Walshhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9557-1487Branavan Nagarajanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0382-9132Prerna Krishanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7494-2661Richard McGuirehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6930-7559Gladson Vaghelahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4551-1424Abi Sriharanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8191-7050 BackgroundHealthcare Information for All (HIFA) is a multidisciplinary global campaign consisting of more than 20,000 members worldwide committed to improving the availability and use of health care information in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). During the COVID-19 pandemic, online HIFA forums saw a tremendous amount of discussion regarding the lack of information about COVID-19, the spread of misinformation, and the pandemic’s impact on different communities. ObjectiveThis study aims to analyze the themes and perspectives shared in the COVID-19 discussion on English HIFA forums. MethodsOver a period of 8 months, a qualitative thematic content analysis of the COVID-19 discussion on English HIFA forums was conducted. In total, 865 posts between January 24 and October 31, 2020, from 246 unique study participants were included and analyzed. ResultsIn total, 6 major themes were identified: infodemic, health system, digital health literacy, economic consequences, marginalized peoples, and mental health. The geographical distribution of study participants involved in the discussion spanned across 46 different countries in every continent except Antarctica. Study participants’ professions included public health workers, health care providers, and researchers, among others. Study participants’ affiliation included nongovernment organizations (NGOs), commercial organizations, academic institutions, the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organization (WHO), and others. ConclusionsThe themes that emerged from this analysis highlight personal recounts, reflections, suggestions, and evidence around addressing COVID-19 related misinformation and might also help to understand the timeline of information evolution, focus, and needs surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.https://infodemiology.jmir.org/2022/1/e30167 |
| spellingShingle | Rakshith Gangireddy Stuti Chakraborty Neil Pakenham-Walsh Branavan Nagarajan Prerna Krishan Richard McGuire Gladson Vaghela Abi Sriharan Themes Surrounding COVID-19 and Its Infodemic: Qualitative Analysis of the COVID-19 Discussion on the Multidisciplinary Healthcare Information for All Health Forum JMIR Infodemiology |
| title | Themes Surrounding COVID-19 and Its Infodemic: Qualitative Analysis of the COVID-19 Discussion on the Multidisciplinary Healthcare Information for All Health Forum |
| title_full | Themes Surrounding COVID-19 and Its Infodemic: Qualitative Analysis of the COVID-19 Discussion on the Multidisciplinary Healthcare Information for All Health Forum |
| title_fullStr | Themes Surrounding COVID-19 and Its Infodemic: Qualitative Analysis of the COVID-19 Discussion on the Multidisciplinary Healthcare Information for All Health Forum |
| title_full_unstemmed | Themes Surrounding COVID-19 and Its Infodemic: Qualitative Analysis of the COVID-19 Discussion on the Multidisciplinary Healthcare Information for All Health Forum |
| title_short | Themes Surrounding COVID-19 and Its Infodemic: Qualitative Analysis of the COVID-19 Discussion on the Multidisciplinary Healthcare Information for All Health Forum |
| title_sort | themes surrounding covid 19 and its infodemic qualitative analysis of the covid 19 discussion on the multidisciplinary healthcare information for all health forum |
| url | https://infodemiology.jmir.org/2022/1/e30167 |
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