New York, NY | November 25, 2024 – In a recent edition of Nature Medicine, public health leaders including CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) Distinguished Lecturer Scott Ratzan and Senior Scholars Heidi Larson and Kenneth Rabin announce the launch of a new commission aimed at promoting equitable access to quality health information and establishing health communication as a distinct public health discipline.
The Quality Health Information for All Commission, one of the first such groups ever authorized by the Nature Portfolio of scientific journals, will strive to ensure that health information is accurate and understandable, and reinforce public trust in health institutions and providers.
The commission's primary objectives include advocating for evidence-based policies that support and promote high-quality scientific and health information, as well as improving health literacy. It will conduct a rigorous review of the current health information landscape and work towards developing strategies to combat inaccurate or misleading content.
Specialized working groups will focus on key challenges, such as understanding cultural contexts for interpreting scientific evidence, examining the roles of traditional and digital media in health communication, ensuring quality health communication while respecting freedom of expression, leveraging AI to promote quality information and build trust, and developing quality indicators for health information.
This initiative brings together leaders from various sectors, including public health, law, policy, medicine, social sciences, and technology.
"As the global health information ecosystem continues to grow more complex, this commission represents a significant step towards improving the quality and accessibility of health information for individuals and communities worldwide," says Dr. Ratzan. "By addressing the critical social challenge of providing equitable access to high-quality health information in today's complex environment, the commission seeks to transform lives and safeguard the health of individuals, families, and communities."
