Battling Misinformation in Disasters: The Critical Role of Health Communication

Disasters are events with major impacts on society. In such times, the timely and accurate sharing of information is crucial. However, misinformation also spreads rapidly during crises. This poses a serious challenge to crisis management and public health. False information circulates quickly through social media, traditional media, and personal communication, leading to panic, harmful health behaviors, and disruptions in official response efforts. Health communication plays a key role in ensuring accurate information and reducing the spread of misinformation. Effective strategies promote transparency, emphasize trusted sources, and improve media literacy. This study examines the dynamics of misinformation dissemination during disasters and explores preventive strategies within the scope of health communication. Based on a systematic review of recent and original studies, the findings underline the need to strengthen media literacy and ensure fast and reliable access to information. They also emphasize the importance of developing personalized health communication strategies to reduce information pollution during disasters.