Mitigating the Spread of Misinformation and Disinformation about COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment Initiatives among Hispanics

大量证据表明错误信息和虚假信息在COVID-19疫苗接种中所起的作用 在一般人群中的犹豫和拒绝。关于错误信息和 社交媒体上的虚假信息影响了不同种族群体对COVID-19的看法，尤其是西班牙裔。 这个群体是美国受COVID-19影响最严重的群体，其中包括一个健康状况不佳的社区。 健康的社会决定因素普遍存在差异和不公平的差距。由于拉美裔人更依赖社交媒体， 媒体获得关于COVID-19的信息比任何其他族裔群体，必须扩大对 通过这些沟通渠道减轻错误信息和虚假信息的影响。 本提案的目的是扩展PI和合作研究者完成的早期研究， 文化敏感的战略，传播关于COVID-19预防和治疗的准确信息。我们 将通过以下具体目标实现总体目标：（1）开发社会网络分析模型， 估计西班牙裔社区使用的COVID-19错误信息和虚假信息的程度;（2） 与有代表性的西班牙裔社区成员进行焦点小组会议;（3）完成经济 对西班牙裔美国人提出的信息战略的影响分析。这项研究将在德克萨斯州的埃尔帕索进行， 并介绍了几个关键的创新。第一，开发一个评估社交媒体的社交网络模型 数据在英语和西班牙语，并考虑在美国和墨西哥的社交媒体平台。我们认为 墨西哥社交媒体流量影响了美国的西班牙裔人口。二是纵向发展 错误信息/虚假信息指数，这将允许估计错误信息和虚假信息的程度 在不同时期和不同民族之间的影响。第三，在不同领域实施焦点小组组合， 西班牙裔人口统计群体，将：a）补充社会网络分析模型的结果; B） 获取相关社交媒体渠道的深入数据; c）估计对COVID-19风险认知的变化 紧急情况; d）确定疫苗接种后的风险态度; e）提供COVID-19感染程度的量表， 预防知识; f）预测潜在的健康态度和行为变化。具体利益将在 包括针对西班牙裔妇女、老年人和慢性病患者、残疾人的会议， 物质使用障碍最后，经济影响分析将提供基于以下方面的项目评估估计： 潜在的干预医疗保健成本节约和生活质量的变化。该提案提供了创新 量化方法来衡量COVID-19错误信息和虚假信息在西班牙裔美国人中的影响， 并帮助确定适当的、文化敏感的战略，以消除该社区的健康差距。我们 研究团队包括双语和双文化专家，他们对西班牙裔人口有着深刻的了解， 埃尔帕索，以及该国其他类似的社区。这种专业知识将使我们能够提出研究模型 可转移到美国和其他国家的不同地区和群体。

Considerable evidence exists on the role misinformation and disinformation has played on COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy and refusal at the general population level. There is less research on how misinformation and disinformation on social media affects COVID-19 perceptions by different ethnic groups, particularly Hispanics. This group has been the most affected by COVID-19 in the US, and includes a community where health disparities and inequitable gaps in social determinants of health prevail. Since Hispanics rely more on social media to obtain information on COVID-19 than any other ethnic group, it is imperative to expand research on mitigating the effect of misinformation and disinformation through these communication channels.The general objective of this proposal is to expand on earlier studies completed by the PI and co-investigators on appropriate, culturally sensitive, strategies to disseminate accurate information on COVID-19 prevention and treatments. We will pursue the overall objective through these specific aims: (1) develop a social network analysis model to estimate degree of COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation consumed by the Hispanic community; (2) conduct focus group sessions with representative Hispanic community members; and (3) complete an economic impact analysis of proposed informational strategies for Hispanics. The study will take place in El Paso, Texas, and introduces several key innovations. First, development of a social network model to evaluate social media data in both English and Spanish, and considering social media platforms in the US and Mexico. We believe that Mexican social media traffic influences Hispanic populations in the US. Second, development of a longitudinal misinformation/disinformation index, which will allow estimating degrees of misinformation and disinformation impact over time and between ethnic groups. Third, implement a combination of focus groups across different Hispanic demographic groups which will: a) complement findings from the social network analysis model; b) obtain in-depth data on relevant social media channels; c) estimate changes on risk perception of COVID-19 emergencies; d) define risk attitudes post-vaccine; e) provide a scale on the degree of COVID-19 infection and prevention literacy; and f) forecast potential health attitude and behavior changes. Specific interest will be on including sessions targeting Hispanic women, elderly, and persons with chronic diseases, disabilities, and substance use disorders. Lastly, an economic impact analysis will provide program evaluation estimates based on potential intervention healthcare cost savings, and quality of life changes. This proposal provides innovative quantitative approaches to measure the effect of COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation among Hispanics, and to help define appropriate, culturally sensitive, strategies to eliminate health disparities in this community. Our research team includes bilingual and bi-cultural specialists with profound knowledge of the Hispanic population in El Paso, and other similar communities in the country. This expertise will allow us to propose research models transferable to different regions and groups in the US, and other countries.