A influência da informação nos cuidados em saúde da pandemia de COVID-19

Abstract

The current pandemic context has given rise to a parallel infodemic that can be perceived from the excess of false news shared online. This incorrect or inaccurate information can shape the way in which subjects interact with their environment and reduce the acceptance of adequate behavioral standards to deal with the pandemic. In this sense, it is necessary to better understand the social aspect that is involved in this informational dynamic of receiving and sharing, so the social representations constituted between the subjects can elucidate how they perceive and interact with the pandemic and infodemic contexts. Thus, this research aimed to apprehend the social representations of “coronavirus” and “fake news” and analyze how the information received and shared online can influence decision-making on health care in the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an observational and cross-sectional study with quantitative and qualitative data analysis. Which was carried out with a sample of 1389 participants aged 18 years or over, recruited using the snowball technique, via virtual means (social networks and email). A questionnaire divided into three parts was used: I. Sociodemographic Questionnaire; II. Free Word Association Technique-TALP; III. Questionnaire on verification and information sharing and its influence on decision making about health care. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed for the sociodemographic data, as the TALP data were submitted to the Iramuteq software to perform a prototypical analysis and Descending Hierarchical Classification (CHD) and for the third part binary logistic regression was performed. According to the results, the sample consisted of a majority of females (66.2%), in addition to having high levels of education (higher with 33.3% and postgraduate studies 38.6%). It was concluded that the social representations of the participants about “coronavirus” refer to the negative character of the illness, in addition to emphasizing aspects related to hygiene standards and the political bias related to the pandemic. The political issue gains emphasis with regard to representations of “fake news”, in addition to presenting a negative understanding of the term. The social representations of the two inducing terms refer to fear and insecurity in the face of something still new, a disease hitherto unknown. The relationship between doubt and the imminent risk of death as a result of COVID-19 can create a favorable environment for the current infodemia. There is a feedback process that is based on the lack of security and the search to know how to behave in the face of a pandemic. Thus, a person who shares information just to keep others informed is more likely not to perform the check before resubmission than someone who has other motivations. Whereas a person who takes into account the internet to define hygiene standards is more likely to remain in isolation and/or social distance.