Masters of Science in Epidemiology - Thesis Application

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge of health misinformation - a term encapsulating any false, inaccurate, or misleading information in light of the best available evidence at the time. This rise in misinformation has not only created confusion regarding the effectiveness and use of public health countermeasures but has fueled mistrust in health institutions and has influenced the health behaviours of the public. Due to the harmful effects of misinformation, such as vaccine hesitancy, refusal to follow public health guidelines, and medical mistrust, in addition to the urgency to better understand how and why misinformation spreads, there has been an influx of research focusing on misinformation. Dozens of new theories, models, and frameworks (TMFs) have been developed to describe, explain, and propose interventions against misinformation. However, the purpose, characteristics, usability, applicability, and testability of these misinformation TMFs have yet to be synthesized, presenting a knowledge gap. Wang et al. have introduced a structured categorization of TMFs, addressing the systematic appraisals of their quality. To build upon Wang et al.'s review and address the abovementioned gap, the present study aims to compare and contrast misinformation TMFs in terms of purpose, characteristics, and appraisal criteria. A scoping review, adhering to PRISMA-ScR guidance and Wang et al.'s methodological approach, will be conducted. By synthesizing theoretical explanations of misinformation, this study will provide a clearer understanding of the key mechanisms involved in spreading misinformation, which will help build a theoretical foundation to guide more effective interventions for counteracting healthcare misinformation.