Nursing Diagnosis “Maladaptive Coping with Infodemic": A Concept Analysis

Abstract

Objectives

To analyze the concept of infodemic in health as a theoretical basis for proposing the nursing diagnosis “Maladaptive Coping with the Infodemic”.

Methods

A conceptual analysis guided by the Walker and Avant method was conducted, following the steps of identifying the uses of the concept, attributes, antecedents, consequences, empirical referents, and model and contrary cases. To construct the definitions, an integrative literature review was carried out in June 2024.

Results

Thirty-three studies addressing the concept of infodemic in individual health were identified. The core elements of the concept include information overload, disinformation, misinformation, fake news. The antecedents include the pandemic, low educational level, low income, and low health literacy with depression identified as an associated condition. The consequences include incorrect health actions (e.g., refusal to vaccinate), risk-prone behaviors (e.g., lack of protective measures), anxiety, stress, fear, social isolation, and insomnia, substance abuse.

Conclusions

The proposed nursing diagnosis, “Maladaptive Coping with the Infodemic,” provides a theoretical framework to support nurses in identifying behaviors and psychological impacts associated with misinformation and to guide targeted nursing interventions.

Keywords

COVID-19 infodemic social media mental health nursing diagnoses

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