Misinformation and misinformation: Nurses’ role in evidence-based commentary

Social media platforms have become a popular source of information for the public and a soapbox for healthcare providers of all kinds. While this may seem like a positive influence, the information may not be completely correct or even completely false. How are laypeople and even professionals able to decipher fact from opinion when so much data is presented convincingly? What is the nurse’s role in the fight against false information? Furthermore, what is the nurse’s responsibility to ensure that the information she presents is evidence-based and fact-based and not opinionated or incorrect?

Disinformation and disinformation: what’s the difference?

Let’s first talk about two concepts that are related but different in one important respect: disinformation and disinformation. Disinformation is simply defined as inaccurate information, while disinformation is the intentional spreading of inaccurate information to spread fear or cause harm. This is an important distinction, but both types can produce impressions, opinions, and thought processes that are difficult to correct and have been identified as a public health threat by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (Bautista et al., 2021).

Misinformation directly contradicts nurses’ principle of “do no harm” (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2015). This is unethical and in some cases may result in action against your license. According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), “Nurses who identify by their profession are professionally responsible for the information they provide to the public” (NCSBN, 2021). Examples of disinformation include distortions, false truths, and intentional omissions.

Disinformation is a bit more difficult to spot. There may be unintentional omissions of information, rumors or misinterpretations of data that lead to inaccurate information. For example, a data point in a study that has not been properly researched can lead to misinformation. Citing sources of evidence can help prevent misinformation.

How can nurses fight misinformation and misinformation?

In all of these cases, evidence-based investigation can help alleviate some of the problems. Nurses are in a unique position of trust and clinical expertise that can help correct this information. Many healthcare professionals are personally and professionally motivated to improve this information, but barriers have also been identified. Some of them include lack of positive results after making corrections, time, harassment, and lack of institutional support (Bautista et al., 2021).

Nurses can help by directing the public to reliable online sources of information, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Departments of Health. Some nurses feel more comfortable leading others to a source, while others may engage in conversations about science and data. Regardless of the conversation, information must be supported by evidence. Many nurses consider themselves social media influencers who can spread fact-based information and education and debunk false information, regardless of intent. There are outliers from healthcare professionals and websites that provide opinions or evidence-based information; Efforts should be made to correct any misinformation or disinformation to prevent harm to the community.

Some healthcare providers believe it is not their responsibility to correct misinformation or misinformation. As nurses, we have a social and professional responsibility to provide accurate, evidence-based information to ensure a healthy population. This is supported by nursing leadership organizations such as the ANA and NCSBN, as well as international health care interests such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations. As nurses, we have the power to change the way the world sees us and views modern healthcare, despite external (and sometimes) inaccurate influences.

American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/pracy-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/code-of-ethics-for-nurses/

Bautista, J. R., Zhang, Y., and Gwizdka, J. (2021). Motivations, barriers, and recommendations of US physicians and nurses for correcting health misinformation on social media: A qualitative interview study., (9), e27715. https://doi.org/10.2196/27715

NCSBN. (2021). Policy Statement: Dissemination of unscientific and misleading information by nurses regarding COVID-19. Retrieved from https://www.ncsbn.org/public-files/PolicyBriefDisseminationofCOVID19Info.pdf