Health Misinformation and Predatory Publishing
“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes”
~ Mark Twain*
In today’s information landscape, including social media with its commercialization and polarization, many people struggle with discerning the truth. A 2023 survey from KFF revealed half to three-quarters of the public feel uncertain about public health topics (e.g. Covid-19 vaccines, reproductive health, and gun violence), which leaves them vulnerable to misinformation but is also the opportunity to combat it.
In response, Library Services created a Health Misinformation Resource guide complete with reputable tips and recommendations to verify and evaluate health information. Resources from the National Library of Medicine, the National Institute of Health, and the U.S. Surgeon General, including a quick infographic for How to Spot Fake News can help individuals ask the right questions before making an assessment.
In addition, predatory publishing is an increasing threat to researchers. Library Services created a Predatory Publishing guide to identify red flags of predatory journals and quality indicators for open-access journals. Library Services recommends the checklist tool Think, Check, Submit to assess whether a publication suits your research.
*Fun fact: Mark Twain never wrote this statement.
Long COVID Resources
A recent data brief from JAMA provided striking data points on the continuing influence of the COVID pandemic: 7% of US adults have experienced Long COVID. Among the interesting findings, data behind the national survey found the prevalence of long Covid was significantly higher among women, white, and Asian populations compared to men and African American populations.
Did you know Library Services can help provide access to resources for caring for patients and to the latest research in this area, which continues to evolve?
Here are a few notable resources:
MN Department of Health: Long COVID - Links to resources and support for patients, interim guidance for providers, as well as the state’s Guiding Council composed of Minnesota clinicians who care for long COVID patients in primary and specialty care settings across the state.
Roger Chou, Eric Herman, Azrah Ahmed, et al. Long COVID Definitions and Models of Care: A Scoping Review. Ann Intern Med. [Epub 21 May 2024].
National Academies Press ebook on Long COVID (2022)
Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July!
Spring has sprung! We’ve been busy here in Library Services and we are excited to share our updates with you. This month’s update includes a retirement announcement from a long-time staff member, information on navigating federal health data and misinformation, and a tool you can use to keep your research organized. Let's spring right in!
Pamela Barnard retired April 1st
1 minute read time
Congratulations to Pamela Barnard on her retirement! Pam’s last day was Tuesday, April 1st.
Pam has been with Allina Health for 30 years as a Knowledge Consultant Librarian. Pam supported and served countless numbers of clinicians, leaders, staff, patients, and families throughout Allina Health.
Her expertise, insights, kindness, humor, and hard work ethic have made her an amazing colleague and friend. Pam’s strong connections and foundational knowledge will be greatly missed. We are excited for her to start her next chapter.
Navigating Changes in Federal Health Data Access
4 minute read time
There are many questions and much uncertainty around the state of health data from the CDC and other health departments. Library Services is here to help you in the ever-changing federal government landscape.
The New England Journal of Medicine published “Disappearing Data at the U.S. Federal Government | New England Journal of Medicine” last month, offering their perspective on this topic and its possible consequences.
What we know
How can I access removed data sets or other health information?
More information
Check out our new subject guide: Health Misinformation
From our media ecosystem to dinner table conversations, health misinformation is pervasive in our lives. It is more important than ever to be alert and respond to health misinformation to keep our patients, our communities, and ourselves safe and healthy.
Library Services can help you do that. Our new Health Misinformation subject guide is full of resources to help you address health misinformation.
Spring Cleaning with Zotero
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Spring is a time for cleaning. Do you need to clean up your research? Zotero is a free, easy-to use tool to help you collect, organize, annotate, cite, and share research. With Zotero you can:
For more information about Zotero, visit our Citation Tools page or request training by emailing library@allina.com.
That is all for our April update! To learn about how Allina Health Library Services can make your work easier, visit our Library Services webpage or email us at Library@allina.com.
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