Information Warfare in Health Sector – Sifting ‘Real’ from ‘Fake’ News (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanveer Rehman
Keyword(s):  
Health Sector ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
Information Warfare ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Fake News ◽  
The Public ◽  
Inaccurate Information ◽  
Information Spread ◽  
Psychological Operations

UNSTRUCTURED Information warfare (IW) involves manipulation, destruction, or denying access to information altogether while maintaining the target’s trust. Psychological operations, a type of IW, concern the majority of the public as it aims to degrade their morale through infodemic and fake news. Fake news related to healthcare was present even before the COVID-19 pandemic. A broad range of content comes under it, like communication of inaccurate information with or without any intention to cause harm, mistaken interpretation of satires, and information spread with definitive socio-political agenda. We discuss the various facets of fake news including its burden in the health sector, pathogenesis, the different psychological perspectives of its spread, and strategies to counter it.

scholarly journals Countering misinformation: A multidisciplinary approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 205395172110138
Author(s):  
Kacper T Gradoń ◽  
Janusz A. Hołyst ◽  
Wesley R Moy ◽  
Julian Sienkiewicz ◽  
Krzysztof Suchecki
Keyword(s):  
Information Technologies ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
World Health ◽  
Fake News ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
The Public ◽  
Inaccurate Information ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Learning Data

The article explores the concept of infodemics during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the propagation of false or inaccurate information proliferating worldwide throughout the SARS-CoV-2 health crisis. We provide an overview of disinformation, misinformation and malinformation and discuss the notion of “fake news”, and highlight the threats these phenomena bear for health policies and national and international security. We discuss the mis-/disinformation as a significant challenge to the public health, intelligence, and policymaking communities and highlight the necessity to design measures enabling the prevention, interdiction, and mitigation of such threats. We then present an overview of selected opportunities for applying technology to study and combat disinformation, outlining several approaches currently being used to understand, describe, and model the phenomena of misinformation and disinformation. We focus specifically on complex networks, machine learning, data- and text-mining methods in misinformation detection, sentiment analysis, and agent-based models of misinformation spreading and the detection of misinformation sources in the network. We conclude with the set of recommendations supporting the World Health Organization’s initiative on infodemiology. We support the implementation of integrated preventive procedures and internationalization of infodemic management. We also endorse the application of the cross-disciplinary methodology of Crime Science discipline, supplemented by Big Data analysis and related information technologies to prevent, disrupt, and detect mis- and disinformation efficiently.

scholarly journals Research of Fake News Spreading Through Whatsapp

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6S4) ◽  
pp. 948-951
Keyword(s):  
Text Messages ◽  
Problem Situation ◽  
Fake News ◽  
Inaccurate Information ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Information Spread ◽  
Cross Platform ◽  
The Right ◽  
Voice Calls ◽  
User Location

Whatsapp, a social media app that allows instant, cross- platform messaging facility for the users to send or receive text messages, voice calls, video calls, images, documents and user location in just a single click from any location of the country. It makes the system of communication highly secure by providing the feature of end-to-end encryption. However, there are many cases observed where fake news or inaccurate information spread/ escalate like a world fire on Whatsapp. Concerning the problem (situation), we have tried to estimate the spread of Fake news on Whatsapp based on the Analytic Modeling, considering the number of feasible authors those are relevant for spreading of fake news (S), the wide variety of coetaneous authors who are highly active for posting the fake information (I), the range of authors who got the right information (R) through TV channels, newspaper etc who are inactive to spread the fake information. The conclusion came to be as unsteady because of the results that showed the trend of speeding fake news will be more in next upcoming years due to lack of awareness among the users.

scholarly journals Digital democracy: from status activus digitalis to disinformation – towards a new wave of judicialization of politics?

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-74
Author(s):  
Mônia Clarissa Hennig Leal
Keyword(s):  
Central Element ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
New Wave ◽  
Digital Environment ◽  
Fake News ◽  
The Public ◽  
Digital Democracy ◽  
Strategic Role ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Legal Condition

This Article intends to develop the notion of status activus digitalis as a fundamental legal condition of the individual in times of digital democracy. Participation in procedures and deliberation (status activus processualis) appears as a central element of democracy, a context in which access to information plays a strategic role. In this scenario, the digital environment enhances this participation (status activus digtialis), while the use of fake news affects this information and, consequently, the public debate, representing a real (not fake!) threat to democracy.

scholarly journals Twitter’s Fake News Discourses Around Climate Change and Global Warming

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Al-Rawi ◽  
Derrick OʼKeefe ◽  
Oumar Kane ◽  
Aimé-Jules Bizimana
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
United States ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Online Community ◽  
The United States ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
The Political ◽  
Fake News ◽  
The Public

In this empirical study, we collected about 6.8 million tweets that mentioned “fake news”, and we extracted references to climate change and/or global warming to understand the public discourses around these two issues. Using a mixed method, the study’s findings show that there is a clear politically polarized discussion on climate change. We found that the majority of tweets focus on the United States context though references to other Western coutnries are often made. The anti-Liberal or anti-Democratic online community was more active on Twitter than the anti-conservative or anti-Republican community. Also, more than half the examined most retweeted posts contained claims about climate change being a natural cycle or even denying it exists, while about a third of these tweets stated that climate change was anthropogenic. The implications of the study are discussed, we argue that fake news as a term has a hollow meaning as it is used as a buzzword to discredit opponents and further the political agenda of different parties not only in the United States but also in other Western countries like Australia.

Corrupt Practices in the Public Health Sector: A Focus on Metropolitan Local Government Areas of Kano State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
Mohammed Mustapha Namadi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Healthcare Provision ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Sector ◽  
The Government

Corruption is pervasive in Nigeria at all levels. Thus, despite recent gains in healthcare provision, the health sector faces numerous corruption related challenges. This study aims at examining areas of corruption in the health sector with specific focus on its types and nature. A sample size of 480 respondents aged 18 years and above was drawn from the eight Metropolitan Local Government Areas of Kano State, using the multistage sampling technique. The results revealed evidence of corrupt practices including those related to unnecessary-absenteeism, diversion of patients from the public health facilities to the private sector, diverting money meant for the purchase of equipment, fuel and diesel, bribery, stealing of medications, fraud, misappropriation of medications and unjustifiable reimbursement claims. In order to resolve the problem of corrupt practices in the healthcare sector, the study recommended the need for enforcement of appropriate code of ethics guiding the conduct of the health professionals, adoption of anti-corruption strategies, and strengthening the government monitoring system to check corruption in public health sector in order to ensure equitable access to healthcare services among the under-privileged people in the society.

Pharmacist for a Healthy India – Swasth Bharath

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 3151-3154
Author(s):  
G. N. Singh
Keyword(s):  
Pharmaceutical Industry ◽  
Research And Development ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
High Technology ◽  
Pharmaceutical Sector ◽  
The Public ◽  
Pharmacy Council ◽  
Global Player

India has emerged as a global player for pharmaceuticals. The pharmaceutical revolution of 1970-90 of Indian Pharma Industry had demonstrated that India could be self-sufficient in the manufacture of essential drugs at affordable prices. The turnover of Indian Pharmaceutical is over $30 billion in 2015 including $15 billion in exports.  It was a great honor to preside the 67th Indian pharmaceutical congress held in Mysore. The topic of Pharmacists for a Healthy India is close to my heart and being a regulator myself, I feel that the Pharmacy fraternity can play a much larger role in contributing to the healthcare system in India. Pharmacist as such are involved in a big way in the regulation of drugs, be it manufacture, be it sale or research and development. A contribution of the Pharmacists is there at every stage till the drug reaches the consumer safely. For this purpose, the society needs a pool of well qualified and experienced pharmacists, which requires regular updating of their knowledge to keep pace with the developments taking place in the pharmaceutical sector. The advancements in technology and the emerging challenges in the health sector require pharmacists to shoulder the responsibilities towards the utilization of scientific knowledge in the use of modern medicines and the protection of the public against dangers of wrong use of drugs. The Pharmacy Council of India on its part will have to ensure that the courses offered for creating a high technology based are calibrated in such a way that the education and skills developed suit to the requirements of the Pharmaceutical Industry as well as needs to the patients

Values in Science and the Erosion of Trust

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inmaculada de Melo-Martín ◽  
Kristen Intemann
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Social Values ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
Values In Science ◽  
Scientific Communities ◽  
Alternative Strategies ◽  
Political Values ◽  
The Public

This chapter considers another factor that plays a role in eroding the public’s trust in science: concerns about the negative influence of nonepistemic values in science, particularly in controversial areas of inquiry with important effects on public policy. It shows that the credibility of scientists can be undermined when the public perceives that scientists have a political agenda or will be biased by their own personal or political values. However, to assume that the best way to address this problem is try to eliminate such values from science altogether would be a mistake. Ethical and social values are necessary and important to knowledge production. Consequently, the chapter explores alternative strategies to increase transparency and stakeholder involvement so as to address legitimate concerns about bias and sustain warranted trust in scientific communities.

Navigating the Ethics of Big Data in Public Health

2019 ◽  
pp. 353-367
Author(s):  
Effy Vayena ◽  
Lawrence Madoff
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Big Data ◽  
Credit Card ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Community ◽  
Digital Disease Detection ◽  
The Public Sphere

“Big data,” which encompasses massive amounts of information from both within the health sector (such as electronic health records) and outside the health sector (social media, search queries, cell phone metadata, credit card expenditures), is increasingly envisioned as a rich source to inform public health research and practice. This chapter examines the enormous range of sources, the highly varied nature of these data, and the differing motivations for their collection, which together challenge the public health community in ethically mining and exploiting big data. Ethical challenges revolve around the blurring of three previously clearer boundaries: between personal health data and nonhealth data; between the private and the public sphere in the online world; and, finally, between the powers and responsibilities of state and nonstate actors in relation to big data. Considerations include the implications for privacy, control and sharing of data, fair distribution of benefits and burdens, civic empowerment, accountability, and digital disease detection.

scholarly journals Detailed cost of robotic-assisted surgery in the Australian public health sector: from implementation to a multi-specialty caseload

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate McBride ◽  
Daniel Steffens ◽  
Christina Stanislaus ◽  
Michael Solomon ◽  
Teresa Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Fixed Costs ◽  
Tertiary Referral Hospital ◽  
Robotic Assisted ◽  
The Public ◽  
Robotic Assisted Surgery ◽  
Specific Implementation ◽  
Theatre Utilisation

Abstract Background A barrier to the uptake of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) continues to be the perceived high costs. A lack of detailed costing information has made it difficult for public hospitals in particular to determine whether use of the technology is justified. This study aims to provide a detailed description of the patient episode costs and the contribution of RAS specific costs for multiple specialties in the public sector. Methods A retrospective descriptive costing review of all RAS cases undertaken at a large public tertiary referral hospital in Sydney, Australia from August 2016 to December 2018 was completed. This included RAS cases within benign gynaecology, cardiothoracic, colorectal and urology, with the total costs described utilizing various inpatient costing data, and RAS specific implementation, maintenance and consumable costs. Results Of 211 RAS patients, substantial variation was found between specialties with the overall median cost per patient being $19,269 (Interquartile range (IQR): $15,445 to $32,199). The RAS specific costs were $8828 (46%) made up of fixed costs including $4691 (24%) implementation and $2290 (12%) maintenance, both of which are volume dependent; and $1848 (10%) RAS consumable costs. This was in the context of 37% robotic theatre utilisation. Conclusions There is considerable variation across surgical specialties for the cost of RAS. It is important to highlight the different cost components and drivers associated with a RAS program including its dependence on volume and how it fits within funding systems in the public sector.

scholarly journals Green Deal as a Climate Changes Dam on the Road to Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Jevtic ◽  
C Bouland
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Clinical Medicine ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Road ◽  
National Public Health ◽  
On The Road ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Public health professionals (PHP) have a dual task in climate change. They should persuade their colleagues in clinical medicine of the importance of all the issues covered by the GD. The fact that the health sector contributes to the overall emissions of 4.4% speaks to the lack of awareness within the health sector itself. The issue of providing adequate infrastructure for the health sector is essential. Strengthening the opportunities and development of the circular economy within healthcare is more than just a current issue. The second task of PHP is targeting the broader population. The public health mission is being implemented, inter alia, through numerous activities related to environmental monitoring and assessment of the impact on health. GD should be a roadmap for priorities and actions in public health, bearing in mind: an ambitious goal of climate neutrality, an insistence on clean, affordable and safe energy, a strategy for a clean and circular economy. GD provides a framework for the development of sustainable and smart transport, the development of green agriculture and policies from field to table. It also insists on biodiversity conservation and protection actions. The pursuit of zero pollution and an environment free of toxic chemicals, as well as incorporating sustainability into all policies, is also an indispensable part of GD. GD represents a leadership step in the global framework towards a healthier future and comprises all the non-EU members as well. The public health sector should consider the GD as an argument for achieving goals at national levels, and align national public health policies with the goals of this document. There is a need for stronger advocacy of health and public-health interests along with incorporating sustainability into all policies. Achieving goals requires the education process for healthcare professionals covering all of topics of climate change, energy and air pollution to a much greater extent than before.

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