Studying misinformation surrounding COVID-19 in Hispanic communities
Citation
Mata, Rory. 2022.
Studying misinformation surrounding COVID-19 in Hispanic communities -- In Proceedings: 21st Annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum. Wichita, KS: Wichita State University, p. 32
Abstract
This study will investigate the effects of COVID-19 misinformation spread in
Hispanic communities in Wichita, KS. The pandemic saw a rise in the spread of false
information through social media, which is well documented in English studies, but
Spanish web pages are frequently overlooked. Often there is a delay in the removal of
misinformation regarding COVID-19 in languages other than English. Consequently,
Spanish medical interpreters facing the stress of an increased number of patients in the
pandemic cannot rely on information from the web. This combination of negative effects
emphasizes the need for availability of Spanish medical interpreters. Overall, limited
English proficiency and a lack of ability to effectively communicate with a healthcare
provider in Spanish decrease trust between patient and provider, as well as overall
knowledge of the care being received.
The study will be conducted through surveys containing questions about experiences in
medical settings regarding COVID-19. The survey will be circulated among students at
Wichita State University. Preliminary results of the study suggest that among social
media sources, trust is placed in only verified accounts, and that the validity of news
sources may be called into question. Among bilingual speakers, there seems to be up-todate
knowledge of CDC policies, as well as access to COVID-19 resources in both
languages. The goal of the study is that the experiences collected through these surveys
will help understand the effects of COVID-19 misinformation, and provide insight into
ways of preventing such spread in Hispanic communities in and around Wichita.
Description
Third place winner of University libraries undergraduate research award. Presented to the 21st Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum (URCAF) held at the Rhatigan Student Center, Wichita State University, April 15, 2022.