Combatting misinformation in the public health sphere
The spread of health misinformation has eroded public trust in health institutions, making it more difficult for community-based organizations (CBOs) to provide accurate, evidence-based information. Misinformation about vaccines, opioids, mental health, and other health issues contributes to poor health outcomes, particularly among historically marginalized communities. To combat this, CBOs need timely, credible, and accessible public health messaging that they can share with their communities to counteract harmful narratives.
CHRT is supporting The Public Good Projects’ evaluation efforts by conducting qualitative research on the effectiveness of health messaging strategies. CHRT will conduct stakeholder interviews with CBO leaders, healthcare providers, policymakers, and members of the public to assess which health messages resonate and why. Then CHRT will analyze interview findings to identify key themes, barriers, and opportunities for improving public health communication. CHRT’s findings will help inform future public health communication efforts, ensuring that messages are both effective and accessible for diverse communities.
In addition to this analytic work, CHRT’s MI Community Care project, a project fostered and developed by the Washtenaw Health Initiative, will also disseminate PGP-created health content on social media channels.