Motivations and Goals for Combatting COVID-19 Misinformation in Clinical Setting: A Case Study of Nursing Students.

The misinformation surrounding COVID-19 disrupted public health efforts to mitigate the virus. This study examined the motivations and goals of nursing students to combat COVID-19 misinformation within clinical settings. Medical professionals are best suited to combat health misinformation due to their expertise and lived experience, but they are not mandated but encouraged to address COVID-19 misinformation. Grounded in qualitative research methods and grounded theory, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nursing students who have had clinical practice after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings reveal that the key motivations and goals for addressing misinformation include the need to educate patients, safety, and building trust. Furthermore, the studies identify two types of Goals-Plans-Action (GPA) theory secondary goals: conversation management goal and personal resource goal that could influence motivation to engage in COVID-19 misinformation with patients. Responses indicate that participants motivation to engage in the conversation is negatively influenced due to time to talk about this issue with patients and avoiding conversations they feel will not end well. The findings highlight the need for health organizations and facilities to ensure continuous training and education of nurses on any rising health crisis to increase knowledge and confidence during conversations with patients, support and encourage nurses with the necessary resources that aid such conversations, and collaborate with policymakers to implement policies such as weapon-free zones in clinical environments.