Research progress on the definition, transmission mechanism and management strategies of information epidemic_Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine

Authors：

SHI Jiahui ,  SHEN Jiantong

School of Medicine & Nursing, Huzhou University, Huzhou 313000, P. R. China;

Corresponding author：

SHEN Jiantong, Email: sjiantong@163.com

Keywords：

Infodemic; Information outbreaks; Transmission mechanisms; Model analysis; Infodemic management

DOI：

10.7507/1672-2531.202506055

Video：

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Abstract Full text Figures/Tables Video References Cited by

Infodemic describes a special state during a public health emergency in which biased health information shows an explosive spread. This study systematically comprehends the definition, spreading mechanism, and coping strategies of infodemics. The study shows that the proliferation of false information relies on social media platforms and is driven by group psychological factors, social networks and algorithmic recommendation mechanisms, presenting complex dynamic characteristics. This article focuses on analyzing the commonly used tools in the field of communication science (including three types of models, ABM, SIR and MAP) and exploring their application value in simulating the diffusion path of disinformation. In terms of management strategies, the article proposes the strategies of constructing an intelligent information monitoring system, enhancing public health literacy, strengthening information filtering and quality control, and realizing the precise transformation of scientific knowledge. Despite the progress of the research, it still faces challenges such as fast dissemination speed and difficult supervision. In the future, interdisciplinary cooperation should be strengthened, a data-based information intervention system should be constructed, and the public's ability to immunize false information should be enhanced to protect public health safety.

Citation： SHI Jiahui, SHEN Jiantong. Research progress on the definition, transmission mechanism and management strategies of information epidemic. Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 2026, 26(2): 236-242. doi: 10.7507/1672-2531.202506055 Copy

1.	赵高辉, 杨柳. "信息疫情"的信息流行病学治理. 智能社会研究, 2022, 1(1): 96-118.
2.	Liu T, Xiao X. A framework of AI-based approaches to improving eHealth literacy and combating infodemic. Front Public Health, 2021, 9: 755808.
3.	World Health Organization. Infodemic management: a key component of the COVID-19 global response. Wkly Epidemiol Rec, 2020, 95(16): 145-148.
4.	Eysenbach G. Infodemiology: the epidemiology of (mis)information. Am J Med, 2002, 113(9): 763-765.
5.	Rothkopf DJ. When the buzz bites back. Washington DC: Washington Post, 2003.
6.	Calleja N, AbdAllah A, Abad N, et al. A public health research agenda for managing infodemics: methods and results of the first WHO infodemiology conference. JMIR Infodemiology, 2021, 1(1): e30979.
7.	Journalism. 'Fake News' and disinformation: a handbook for journalism education and training. UNESCO, 2019.
8.	Briand SC, Cinelli M, Nguyen T, et al. Infodemics: a new challenge for public health. Cell, 2021, 184(25): 6010-6014.
9.	王晰巍, 贾若男, 刘婷艳, 等. 新冠肺炎疫情事件信息传播主体特征分析方法及模型—以“钻石公主号邮轮”事件为例. 情报学报, 2021, 40(3): 245-255.
10.	Liu TY, Zhong Y, Chen K. Interdisciplinary study on popularity prediction of social classified hot online events in China. Telemat Inform, 2017, 34(3): 755-764.
11.	江苏佳. 信息疫情: 新冠肺炎疫情谣言传播及应对研究. 科普研究, 2020, 15(1): 70-78, 108.
12.	Parkinson B. Intragroup emotion convergence: beyond contagion and social appraisal. Pers Soc Psychol Rev, 2020, 24(2): 121-140.
13.	Gisondi MA, Chambers D, La TM, et al. A Stanford conference on social media, ethics, and COVID-19 misinformation (INFODEMIC): qualitative thematic analysis. J Med Internet Res, 2022, 24(2): e35707.
14.	Corinti F, Pontillo D, Giansanti D. COVID-19 and the Infodemic: an overview of the role and impact of social media, the evolution of medical knowledge, and emerging problems. Healthcare (Basel), 2022, 10(4): 732.
15.	Vosoughi S, Roy D, Aral S. The spread of true and false news online. Science, 2018, 359(6380): 1146-1151.
16.	Germani F, Spitale G, Machiri SV, et al. Ethical considerations in infodemic management: systematic scoping review. JMIR Infodemiology, 2024, 4: e56307.
17.	Rodríguez A, Cuevas E, Zaldivar D, et al. An agent-based transmission model of COVID-19 for re-opening policy design. Comput Biol Med, 2022, 148: 105847.
18.	Murdock I, Carley KM, Yağan O. An agent-based model of cross-platform information diffusion and moderation. Soc Netw Anal Min, 2024, 14: 145.
19.	Chubb MC, Jacobsen KH. Mathematical modeling and the epidemiological research process. Eur J Epidemiol, 2010, 25(1): 13-19.
20.	Yan Z, Zhou X, Du R. An enhanced SIR dynamic model: the timing and changes in public opinion in the process of information diffusion. Electron Commer Res, 2024, 24: 2021-2044.
21.	Govindankutty S, Gopalan SP. Epidemic modeling for misinformation spread in digital networks through a social intelligence approach. Sci Rep, 2024, 14(1): 19100.
22.	赵汗青, 葛岩, 印闯, 等. 疫情信息怎样影响疫情演化: 一个计算实验模型. 国际新闻界, 2024, 46(5): 133-159.
23.	World Health Organization. Infodemic. 2023.
24.	Eysenbach G. How to fight an infodemic: the four pillars of infodemic management. J Med Internet Res, 2020, 22(6): e21820.
25.	Eysenbach G, Powell J, Kuss O, et al. Empirical studies assessing the quality of health information for consumers on the world wide web: a systematic review. JAMA, 2002, 287(20): 2691-2700.
26.	Boender TS, Schneider PH, Houareau C, et al. Establishing infodemic management in germany: a framework for social listening and integrated analysis to report infodemic insights at the national public health institute. JMIR Infodemiology, 2023, 3: e43646.
27.	Mokhtari H, Mirzaei A. The tsunami of misinformation on COVID-19 challenged the health information literacy of the general public and the readability of educational material: a commentary. Public Health, 2020, 187: 109-110.
28.	McCaffery KJ, Dodd RH, Cvejic E, et al. Health literacy and disparities in COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours in Australia. Public Health Res Pract, 2020, 30(4): 30342012.
29.	Durodolu OO, Ibenne SK. The fake news infodemic vs information literacy. Library Hi Tech News, 2020, 37(7): 13-14.
30.	Schulenkorf T, Krah V, Dadaczynski K, et al. Addressing health literacy in schools in germany: concept analysis of the mandatory digital and media literacy school curriculum. Front Public Health, 2021, 9: 687389.
31.	Choukou MA, Sanchez-Ramirez DC, Pol M, et al. COVID-19 infodemic and digital health literacy in vulnerable populations: a scoping review. Digit Health, 2022, 8: 20552076221076927.
32.	聂云霞, 肖坤, 何金梅. “信息疫情”之下的公众信息素养培育路径探索. 山西档案, 2020, (2): 10-18.
33.	李小波, 郝泽一. 信息疫情的内涵、形成机理与应对策略. 北京联合大学学报(人文社会科学版), 2021, 19(4): 98-111.
34.	邓向阳. “信息流行病”的产生、传播与治理. 人民论坛, 2020, (22): 113-115.
35.	De Santis KK, Jahnel T, Sina E, et al. Digitization and health in germany: cross-sectional nationwide survey. JMIR Public Health Surveill, 2021, 7(11): e32951.
36.	荣光. 基于信息流行病方法构建补充替代医学流感发病预测模型. 北京: 北京中医药大学, 2016.
37.	Tangcharoensathien V, Calleja N, Nguyen T, et al. Framework for managing the COVID-19 infodemic: methods and results of an online, crowdsourced WHO technical consultation. J Med Internet Res, 2020, 22(6): e19659.
38.	Datta R, Yadav AK, Singh A, et al. The infodemics of COVID-19 amongst healthcare professionals in India. Med J Armed Forces India, 2020, 76(3): 276-283.
39.	King O, West E, Alston L, et al. Models and approaches for building knowledge translation capacity and capability in health services: a scoping review. Implement Sci, 2024, 19(1): 7.
40.	Loomba S, de Figueiredo A, Piatek SJ, et al. Measuring the impact of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on vaccination intent in the UK and USA. Nat Hum Behav, 2021, 5(3): 337-348.
41.	White B, Phuong L, Roach J, et al. Pandemics, infodemics and health promotion. Health Promot J Austr, 2023, 34(1): 169-172.

1. 赵高辉, 杨柳. "信息疫情"的信息流行病学治理. 智能社会研究, 2022, 1(1): 96-118.
2. Liu T, Xiao X. A framework of AI-based approaches to improving eHealth literacy and combating infodemic. Front Public Health, 2021, 9: 755808.
3. World Health Organization. Infodemic management: a key component of the COVID-19 global response. Wkly Epidemiol Rec, 2020, 95(16): 145-148.
4. Eysenbach G. Infodemiology: the epidemiology of (mis)information. Am J Med, 2002, 113(9): 763-765.
5. Rothkopf DJ. When the buzz bites back. Washington DC: Washington Post, 2003.
6. Calleja N, AbdAllah A, Abad N, et al. A public health research agenda for managing infodemics: methods and results of the first WHO infodemiology conference. JMIR Infodemiology, 2021, 1(1): e30979.
7. Journalism. 'Fake News' and disinformation: a handbook for journalism education and training. UNESCO, 2019.
8. Briand SC, Cinelli M, Nguyen T, et al. Infodemics: a new challenge for public health. Cell, 2021, 184(25): 6010-6014.
9. 王晰巍, 贾若男, 刘婷艳, 等. 新冠肺炎疫情事件信息传播主体特征分析方法及模型—以“钻石公主号邮轮”事件为例. 情报学报, 2021, 40(3): 245-255.
10. Liu TY, Zhong Y, Chen K. Interdisciplinary study on popularity prediction of social classified hot online events in China. Telemat Inform, 2017, 34(3): 755-764.
11. 江苏佳. 信息疫情: 新冠肺炎疫情谣言传播及应对研究. 科普研究, 2020, 15(1): 70-78, 108.
12. Parkinson B. Intragroup emotion convergence: beyond contagion and social appraisal. Pers Soc Psychol Rev, 2020, 24(2): 121-140.
13. Gisondi MA, Chambers D, La TM, et al. A Stanford conference on social media, ethics, and COVID-19 misinformation (INFODEMIC): qualitative thematic analysis. J Med Internet Res, 2022, 24(2): e35707.
14. Corinti F, Pontillo D, Giansanti D. COVID-19 and the Infodemic: an overview of the role and impact of social media, the evolution of medical knowledge, and emerging problems. Healthcare (Basel), 2022, 10(4): 732.
15. Vosoughi S, Roy D, Aral S. The spread of true and false news online. Science, 2018, 359(6380): 1146-1151.
16. Germani F, Spitale G, Machiri SV, et al. Ethical considerations in infodemic management: systematic scoping review. JMIR Infodemiology, 2024, 4: e56307.
17. Rodríguez A, Cuevas E, Zaldivar D, et al. An agent-based transmission model of COVID-19 for re-opening policy design. Comput Biol Med, 2022, 148: 105847.
18. Murdock I, Carley KM, Yağan O. An agent-based model of cross-platform information diffusion and moderation. Soc Netw Anal Min, 2024, 14: 145.
19. Chubb MC, Jacobsen KH. Mathematical modeling and the epidemiological research process. Eur J Epidemiol, 2010, 25(1): 13-19.
20. Yan Z, Zhou X, Du R. An enhanced SIR dynamic model: the timing and changes in public opinion in the process of information diffusion. Electron Commer Res, 2024, 24: 2021-2044.
21. Govindankutty S, Gopalan SP. Epidemic modeling for misinformation spread in digital networks through a social intelligence approach. Sci Rep, 2024, 14(1): 19100.
22. 赵汗青, 葛岩, 印闯, 等. 疫情信息怎样影响疫情演化: 一个计算实验模型. 国际新闻界, 2024, 46(5): 133-159.
23. World Health Organization. Infodemic. 2023.
24. Eysenbach G. How to fight an infodemic: the four pillars of infodemic management. J Med Internet Res, 2020, 22(6): e21820.
25. Eysenbach G, Powell J, Kuss O, et al. Empirical studies assessing the quality of health information for consumers on the world wide web: a systematic review. JAMA, 2002, 287(20): 2691-2700.
26. Boender TS, Schneider PH, Houareau C, et al. Establishing infodemic management in germany: a framework for social listening and integrated analysis to report infodemic insights at the national public health institute. JMIR Infodemiology, 2023, 3: e43646.
27. Mokhtari H, Mirzaei A. The tsunami of misinformation on COVID-19 challenged the health information literacy of the general public and the readability of educational material: a commentary. Public Health, 2020, 187: 109-110.
28. McCaffery KJ, Dodd RH, Cvejic E, et al. Health literacy and disparities in COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours in Australia. Public Health Res Pract, 2020, 30(4): 30342012.
29. Durodolu OO, Ibenne SK. The fake news infodemic vs information literacy. Library Hi Tech News, 2020, 37(7): 13-14.
30. Schulenkorf T, Krah V, Dadaczynski K, et al. Addressing health literacy in schools in germany: concept analysis of the mandatory digital and media literacy school curriculum. Front Public Health, 2021, 9: 687389.
31. Choukou MA, Sanchez-Ramirez DC, Pol M, et al. COVID-19 infodemic and digital health literacy in vulnerable populations: a scoping review. Digit Health, 2022, 8: 20552076221076927.
32. 聂云霞, 肖坤, 何金梅. “信息疫情”之下的公众信息素养培育路径探索. 山西档案, 2020, (2): 10-18.
33. 李小波, 郝泽一. 信息疫情的内涵、形成机理与应对策略. 北京联合大学学报(人文社会科学版), 2021, 19(4): 98-111.
34. 邓向阳. “信息流行病”的产生、传播与治理. 人民论坛, 2020, (22): 113-115.
35. De Santis KK, Jahnel T, Sina E, et al. Digitization and health in germany: cross-sectional nationwide survey. JMIR Public Health Surveill, 2021, 7(11): e32951.
36. 荣光. 基于信息流行病方法构建补充替代医学流感发病预测模型. 北京: 北京中医药大学, 2016.
37. Tangcharoensathien V, Calleja N, Nguyen T, et al. Framework for managing the COVID-19 infodemic: methods and results of an online, crowdsourced WHO technical consultation. J Med Internet Res, 2020, 22(6): e19659.
38. Datta R, Yadav AK, Singh A, et al. The infodemics of COVID-19 amongst healthcare professionals in India. Med J Armed Forces India, 2020, 76(3): 276-283.
39. King O, West E, Alston L, et al. Models and approaches for building knowledge translation capacity and capability in health services: a scoping review. Implement Sci, 2024, 19(1): 7.
40. Loomba S, de Figueiredo A, Piatek SJ, et al. Measuring the impact of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on vaccination intent in the UK and USA. Nat Hum Behav, 2021, 5(3): 337-348.
41. White B, Phuong L, Roach J, et al. Pandemics, infodemics and health promotion. Health Promot J Austr, 2023, 34(1): 169-172.

Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine

Research progress on the definition, transmission mechanism and management strategies of information epidemic

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