Misinformation of COVID-19 on the Internet: Infodemiology Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The internet has become an important source of health information for users worldwide. The novel coronavirus caused a pandemic search for information with broad dissemination of false or misleading health information.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality and readability of online information about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which was a trending topic on the internet, using validated instruments and relating the quality of information to its readability.

Methods

The search was based on the term "Wuhan Coronavirus" on the Google website (February 6, 2020). At the search time, the terms "COVID-19" or "SARS-CoV-2" (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) did not exist. Critical analysis was performed on the first 110 hit

SUBMITTER: Cuan-Baltazar JY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7147328 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature