Public health in the age of AI and fake news: a scoping review of digital responses

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for effective strategies to counter health misinformation and support evidence-based communication. Nurses, as key public health actors, are well positioned to face infodemic-related challenges. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and chatbots, are increasingly used to detect, monitor, and respond to misinformation. However, their application in nursing practice is still underexplored. This scoping review aimed to map the literature on AI in nursing and public health to support health promotion, misinformation management, and decision-making. Methods A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR framework. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL in March 2025 for peer-reviewed studies (2017-2025) describing AI use in nursing or public health, with a focus on misinformation, health literacy, or decision support. Screening was performed by three independent reviewers (SQ, NB, AP); disagreements were resolved by a fourth reviewer (AC). Data were analyzed thematically. Results Sixty-three studies were included. Most were from the United States (21.7%) and focused on COVID-19 misinformation. Common technologies were social media analytics (53.3%), machine learning (30.0%), and NLP (26.7%). AI supported misinformation detection (76.7%), epidemiological monitoring (11.7%), and decision-making (6.7%). Benefits included improved communication and public engagement; barriers involved lack of training, integration, and ethical concerns like bias and data privacy. Conclusions AI can enhance nursing's role in infodemic management and digital public health. Implementation requires investment in training, ethical frameworks, and system interoperability. Key messages • Artificial intelligence empowers nurses to detect and counter misinformation more effectively. • AI integration into public health supports real-time monitoring and tailored health communication.