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A Co-Created Tool to Help Counter Health Misinformation for Spanish-Speaking Communities in the San Francisco Bay Area

Author

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  • Lucía Abascal Miguel

    (Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA)

  • Andres Maiorana

    (Division of Prevention Science, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA)

  • Gustavo Santa Roza Saggese

    (Santa Casa School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo 01221-020, Brazil)

  • Chadwick K. Campbell

    (Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA)

  • Beth Bourdeau

    (Division of Prevention Science, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA)

  • Emily A. Arnold

    (Division of Prevention Science, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA)

Abstract

Background: Health misinformation, which was particularly prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, hampers public health initiatives. Spanish-speaking communities in the San Francisco Bay Area may be especially affected due to low digital health literacy and skepticism towards science and healthcare experts. Our study aims to develop a checklist to counter misinformation, grounded in community insights. Methods: We adopted a multistage approach to understanding barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Spanish-speaking populations in Alameda and San Francisco counties. Initial work included key informant and community interviews. Partnering with a community-based organization (CBO), we organized co-design workshops in July 2022 to develop a practical tool for identifying misinformation. Template analysis identified key themes for actionable steps, such as source evaluation and content assessment. From this, we developed a Spanish-language checklist. Findings: During formative interviews, misinformation was identified as a major obstacle to vaccine uptake. Three co-design workshops with 15 Spanish-speaking women resulted in a 10-step checklist for tackling health misinformation. Participants highlighted the need for scrutinizing sources and assessing messenger credibility, and cues in visual content that could instill fear. The checklist offers a pragmatic approach to source verification and information assessment, supplemented by resources from local CBOs. Conclusion: We have co-created a targeted checklist for Spanish-speaking communities to identify and counter health misinformation. Such specialized tools are essential for populations that are more susceptible to misinformation, enabling them to differentiate between credible and non-credible information.

Suggested Citation

  • Lucía Abascal Miguel & Andres Maiorana & Gustavo Santa Roza Saggese & Chadwick K. Campbell & Beth Bourdeau & Emily A. Arnold, 2024. "A Co-Created Tool to Help Counter Health Misinformation for Spanish-Speaking Communities in the San Francisco Bay Area," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-10, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:3:p:294-:d:1350237
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Salman Bin Naeem & Maged N. Kamel Boulos, 2021. "COVID-19 Misinformation Online and Health Literacy: A Brief Overview," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-12, July.
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