Report
Tackling health misinformation in humanitarian settings using behavioral science
Busara
SECTOR
Health
PROJECT TYPE
Field Experiments
BEHAVIORAL THEME
Misinformation
OVERVIEW
Dealing with Misinformation in the Covid era
The COVID-19 pandemic has been plagued by misinformation, discouraging people from adopting preventive measures and jeopardizing their health. Judging the credibility of information is vital but challenging.
Essential Communication Strategies
Understanding and addressing these factors are essential for effective communication strategies especially in an era of misinformation.
- Effective communication strategies should consider the impact of feelings triggered by information, especially in displacement settings where fear and uncertainty can drive individuals towards misinformation.
- Building trust in the information source and countering mistrust is crucial, while leveraging the mere exposure effect by repeatedly presenting positive health-promoting information through various channels.
- Recognizing the role of availability bias and combating it through timely and memorable information is important.
- Additionally, overcoming confirmation bias involves using relatable and neutral sources, presenting objective facts, and using inclusive language.