The Infodemic within the Pandemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an infodemic as an “overabundance of information—some accurate and some not—that occurs during an epidemic. It spreads between humans in a similar manner to an epidemic, via digital and physical information systems. It makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it.”1 The emotional effects associated with the infodemic within the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, whether confusion, frustration, anxiety, or fear, are apparent when interacting with patients, their families, and facility staff members.