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Tentolouris A, Ntanasis-Stathopoulos I, Vlachakis PK, Tsilimigras DI, Gavriatopoulou M, Dimopoulos MA. COVID-19: time to flatten the infodemic curve. Clin Exp Med 2021; 21:161-165. [PMID: 33417084 PMCID: PMC7790724 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-020-00680-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Thousands of articles have been published regarding the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). Most of them are not original research articles but reviews and editorials, and therefore, the absence of evidence-based guidelines has been evident. In parallel, the quality of manuscripts is questionable since the number of preprints has increased due to the need of fast publication of COVID-19-related articles. Furthermore, the number of retracted articles during the pandemic is exceptionally high. Media have an important role in the distribution of incorrect information, nevertheless individual people and policy makers are also responsible. As misinformation thrives in crisis periods, well-designed studies are needed to flatten the infodemic curve regarding prevention, diagnosis, and long-term complications of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Tentolouris
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Ntanasis-Stathopoulos
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Alexandra General Hospital, 80 Vas. Sofias Avenue, 11528, Athens, Greece
| | - Panayotis K Vlachakis
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Alexandra General Hospital, 80 Vas. Sofias Avenue, 11528, Athens, Greece
| | - Diamantis I Tsilimigras
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Maria Gavriatopoulou
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Alexandra General Hospital, 80 Vas. Sofias Avenue, 11528, Athens, Greece.
| | - Meletios A Dimopoulos
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Alexandra General Hospital, 80 Vas. Sofias Avenue, 11528, Athens, Greece
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