@Article{info:doi/10.2196/21156,
author="Geronikolou, Styliani
and Chrousos, George",
title="COVID-19--Induced Fear in Infoveillance Studies: Pilot Meta-analysis Study of Preliminary Results",
journal="JMIR Form Res",
year="2021",
month="Feb",
day="3",
volume="5",
number="2",
pages="e21156",
keywords="COVID-19; social media; misinformation; infodemics; infodemiology; infoveillance; fear; meta-analysis",
abstract="Background: The World Health Organization named the phenomenon of misinformation spread through social media as an ``infodemic'' and recognized the need to curb it. Misinformation infodemics undermine not only population safety but also compliance to the suggestions and prophylactic measures recommended during pandemics. Objective: The aim of this pilot study is to review the impact of social media on general population fear in ``infoveillance'' studies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) protocol was followed, and 6 out of 20 studies were retrieved, meta-analyzed, and had their findings presented in the form of a forest plot. Results: The summary random and significant event rate was 0.298 (95{\%} CI 0.213-0.400), suggesting that social media--circulated misinformation related to COVID-19 triggered public fear and other psychological manifestations. These findings merit special attention by public health authorities. Conclusions: Infodemiology and infoveillance are valid tools in the hands of epidemiologists to help prevent dissemination of false information, which has potentially damaging effects. ",
issn="2561-326X",
doi="10.2196/21156",
url="https://formative.jmir.org/2021/2/e21156",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/21156",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33400681"
}