Fighting Medical Misinformation and Disinformation
ACP is committed to stopping and preventing the spread of disinformation and misinformation, and vigorously supports the use of science and scientific expertise, based on the best available evidence. The College’s efforts range from weekly publishing of evidence-based scientific content, creating educational materials, issuing public statements, and collaborating with like-minded organizations.
Resources to Counter Medical Mis/Disinformation
ACP is working with a broad array of associations, boards and societies on several different initiatives to mitigate medical misinformation.
Communicating accurate health care information to your community
- Public Health Communications Collaborative has created a collection of resources to help public health leaders deliver fact-driven, effective communications to their communities that make sense of the latest developments, answer tough questions, and bolster local public health outreach.
- Developed by the Coalition for Trust in Health & Science, this messaging brief is the first in a series created to help health workers communicate about evidence-based, personally appropriate health decisions. A wallet-sized version is also available with the same information.
Responding to trending health narratives
This resource site, created by Public Good Projects, curates the best practices and resources from the evolving new discipline of infodemiology, or the study of the spread of information with the goal of improving public health. With monthly newsletters, realtime data and insights, and tailored training modules, Infodemiology.com aims to equip health care providers and public health professionals with the tools to respond to trending health narratives.
How to confidently identify and interpret reliable information
The Coalition for Trust in Health and Science initiative and its multitude of resources were created to curb misinformation and promote science-based information.
Identifying credible sources of health information in social media
With a focus on source credibility, this resource can be used to identify and elevate credible sources of health information on social media and related platforms. ACP serves on the advisory committee of this collaboration between the Council Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS), National Academy of Medicine (NAM), and World Health Organization (WHO).
ACP Video Series
Two video series from ACP provide vaccine education and strategies to help combat health misinformation.
Ask Your Internal Medicine Physician
This patient-facing series features internal medicine physicians answering the public's top vaccine-related questions.
Watch the full series on YouTubePhysician to Physician Conversations
Clinician-facing series with practical approaches to address vaccine and health misinformation with patients.
Watch the full series on YouTubeRelevant Content from ACP
- Ethics and Academic Discourse, Scientific Integrity, Uncertainty, and Disinformation in Medicine Published in Annals of Internal Medicine
- Preparing for Future Pandemics and Public Health Emergencies: An American College of Physicians Policy Position Paper Published in Annals of Internal Medicine
- Modernizing the United States’ Public Health Infrastructure: A Position Paper From the American College of Physicians Published in Annals of Internal Medicine
- Addressing Viral Medical Rumors and False or Misleading Information Published in Annals of Internal Medicine
- The Credibility Conundrum: Can Social Media Companies Define Credibility for Users? Published in Annals of Internal Medicine
- Earn Trust, Counter Misinformation Published in I.M. Matters from ACP
- Medical Misinformation and Disinformation CME/MOC Available Podcast presented by The DEI Shift
Additional Resources
A series of virtual discussion forums for ACP members, covering important clinical and public health topics relevant to daily practice.
Activated in April 2020, this resource hub provides information and comprehensive resources in the realms of clinical, public and ethical policy.
Developed using the best available evidence to provide timely clinical advice, address key clinical questions, and help clinicians provide the best health care possible.