Unleashing the power of AI: Assessing the reliability of ChatGPT in disseminating breast cancer awareness.

ChatGPT is a large language model that can initiate conversations with humans and respond to their questions. Due to its access to vast amounts of text data, it has the potential to offer health information. This study will explore the ability of ChatGPT to disseminate health information on breast cancer to draw predictions on its acceptance and utilization as a portal for breast cancer awareness. Through the Technology Acceptance Model that focuses on two main aspects, the ease of use and the usefulness, a qualitative comparative analysis was conducted to assess breast cancer information retrieved from ChatGPT and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Common queries that patients with breast cancer and the public often ask were used for assessment. A checklist of the essential elements covered by each question was created. Four themes (definition, prevention, diagnostics, and therapeutics) were used for the coding process and truth tables were created to compare answers. Results showed that the design of ChatGPT renders it an easy platform to initiate conversation and obtain clarifications and explanations for ideas and questions instantaneously. ChatGPT provides adequate and correct information on breast cancer compared to the CDC website, collects information from multiple authentic resources, and provides better access to information. Nevertheless, ChatGPT lacks accountability, and the nature of its responses changes over time. Overall, ChatGPT is a promising medium for the dissemination of health information on breast cancer and an important tool for raising awareness and improving public health knowledge on the disease.

Emerging Health Disparities during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has underscored social and racial discrimination in global health, showing that health equity is still a goal to be achieved. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on public health potential is vital to present a fair opportunity for people of different backgrounds to be as healthy as possible. As such, this communication discusses the emerging health disparities in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and analyzes their implications. Original research, effective health communication, and promotion strategies ought to be leveraged to step closer toward national and international health equity.

Media coverage of double masking during the COVID-19 pandemic: A lesson plan.

BACKGROUND: Media news emerged reporting that double masking can increase protection against COVID-19. This led to differential published reports, fueling debate among the public and creating controversy and confusion. In this paper, we present a lesson plan for health communication students to enhance their critical thinking ability and equip them with the necessary tools to analyze various media texts and products. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The lesson plan included a set of activities on three different news pieces related to double masking, each published through a different media outlet: A newspaper, a television channel, and an online magazine/podcast. The lesson was designed for 120 min, over 2 days. It required a digital device and Internet access. Students were tasked to compare between the news based on set criteria and asked to provide their opinions accordingly. They were also assigned to fill out an inverted pyramid for further analysis and interpretation. RESULTS: Students were assessed through a rubric that evaluated gained competencies after lesson completion. The rubric is composed of five elements to assess the students' performances. Elements included filling assigned cells and diagrams, usage of proper English, validation of news sources and reported facts, critical analysis of findings, and finishing the lesson on time. CONCLUSION: This lesson plan enhanced the ability of students to understand and analyze various media texts and validate the content and perspectives published through the different platforms.

Effect of Face Masks on Interpersonal Communication During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Interpersonal communication has been severely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Protective measures, such as social distancing and face masks, are essential to mitigate efforts against the virus, but pose challenges on daily face-to-face communication. Face masks, particularly, muffle sounds and cover facial expressions that ease comprehension during live communication. Here, we explore the role of facial expressions in communication and we highlight how the face mask can hinder interpersonal connection. In addition, we offer coping strategies and skills that can ease communication with face masks as we navigate the current and any future pandemic.

Coping With Stress and Burnout Associated With Telecommunication and Online Learning.

The COVID-19 pandemic substantially impacted the field of telecommunication. It increased the use of media applications that enable teleconferencing, telecommuting, online learning, and social relations. Prolonged time facing screens, tablets, and smart devices increases stress and anxiety. Mental health stressors associated with telecommunication can add to other stressors related to quarantine time and lockdown to eventually lead to exhaustion and burnout. In this review, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on communication and education are explored. In addition, the relationship between prolonged exposure to digital devices and mental health is studied. Finally, coping strategies are offered to help relieve the tele-burdens of pandemics.

Health communication in low-income countries: A 60-year bibliometric and thematic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Health communication is a field that uses social and behavioral models to improve health outcomes and raise awareness on major health risks that threaten human well-being. Low-income countries (LICs) suffer from the effects of communicable and noncommunicable diseases that are exacerbated by weak health-care systems, lack of awareness campaigns, and ineffective communication tactics. This work aims to explore health communication research in LICs to find strategies that help improve health outcomes in the future. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The PubMed database was explored systematically for publications related to health communication from LICs between January 1, 1960, and January 1, 2020. Publications were categorized according to country of origin and were analyzed with respect to population size, gross domestic product (GDP), and primary school enrollment of each state as obtained from the World Bank Open Data. RESULTS: Collectively, LICs published 796 contributions, comprising 1.08% of the total biomedical research published by LICs and 0.27% of the world's health communication research. Malawi had the highest number of publications per GDP, with 32.811 publications per billion US$. Uganda had the most contributions per population, with 9.579 publications per million persons. Ethiopia had the highest amount of contributions per primary school enrollment with a ratio of 2.461 publications per %gross. The role of health communication in promoting HIV awareness and prevention was the most common theme explored. Other infectious diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis, and Ebola, were also highlighted. Improving communication in health education was also explored. CONCLUSION: Health communication is a rising field in LICs, with research focusing on disease prevention. Efforts to amplify research are key to effectively utilize the health communication models and improve health outcomes in LICs.

Leveraging media and health communication strategies to overcome the COVID-19 infodemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a complementary infodemic, whereby various outlets and digital media portals shared false information and unsourced recommendations on health. In addition, journals and authors published a mass of academic articles at a speed that suggests a non-existent or a non-rigorous peer review process. Such lapses can promote false information and adoption of health policies based on misleading data. Reliable information is vital for designing and implementing preventive measures and promoting health awareness in the fight against COVID-19. In the age of social media, information travels wide and fast, emphasizing a need for accurate data to be corroborated swiftly and for preventing misleading information from wide dissemination. Here, we discuss the implications of the COVID-19 infodemic and explore practical ways to leverage health communication strategies to overcome it. We propose the "Infodemic Response Checklist" as a comprehensive tool to overcome the challenges posed by the current and any future infodemics.

Health communication research in the Arab world: A bibliometric analysis.

Objective: Health communication is a novel field in the Arab world. This study aimed to describe and characterise health communication research activity in the region. Methods and analysis: The PubMed database was used to search for publications related to health communication from Arab states. Publications were classified according to country of origin, without limiting for date. Research activity and output were examined with respect to population and the gross domestic product (GDP) of each Arab state. Results: A total of 66 contributions related to health communication came from the Arab countries, with the first paper published from Lebanon in 2004. Health communication-related publications constituted 0.03% of the total biomedical research contributions published by the Arab world since 2004 and 1% of the world's health communication literature. Number of health communication contributions ranged between 0 and 12, with Lebanon producing the most output. Qatar ranked first with respect to contributions per population, whereas Lebanon ranked first with respect to contributions per GDP. Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen had nil health communication publications. Conclusion: Recognising the barriers facing the health communication field and addressing them carefully are vital in the plan to better the Arab world's output and contribution in the field.