The latest installment of the #PWChat series focused on communicating about complex, pandemic-related issues with the public.
Below are the highlights from the chat. You can read the full transcript here, by scrolling through the questions and answers provided by participants in reverse chronological order.
Welcome to the latest #PWChat, on communicating complex, #pandemic-related issues with the public, with co-host @stacey_klutts. Our plan is to go until 5pm EST, officially, but let’s keep the convo going well after! pic.twitter.com/gjbHGcCLEM
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) September 28, 2021
J. Stacey Klutts, MD, PhD (@stacey_klutts) is Clin Assoc Prof of #Pathology at Univ of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics (@UIPathology), Special Asst to Natl VA Path & Lab Program Office (@DeptVetAffairs), Chief of Path & Lab Med @VACentralIowa, & Staff Pathologist @VAIowaCity#PWChat
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) September 28, 2021
A1: As much as possible, tell it like a story. The virus has a story. Our immune system has a story. The pathogenesis of disease has a story. The vaccines have stories. Tell these stories using accurate, up-to-date information. Link the stories where you can. 1/2#PWChat
— Stacey Klutts (@stacey_klutts) September 28, 2021
A1: Time you have to communicate will dictate whether this approach is reasonable. Some patient interactions might not provide enough time. It would be interesting to hear how others have approached this in patient settings. Do they have scripts for communications?
2/2#PWChat— Stacey Klutts (@stacey_klutts) September 28, 2021
I have learned that starting with education &/or explanations does not work, unless person is ready to learn.
So, before starting, I 1st evaluate where they are c their knowledge, beliefs &/or fears. After that we move to the next steps.
Thank you for the #pwchat #COVID19
— Jasminka Criley MD, FACP, FHM (@criley_md) September 28, 2021
Absolutely. I have indeed written a string of these on various COVID-related topics and have tried to make them understandable to all. I’ve made all of them public and can be found by just searching my name. #PWChat
— Stacey Klutts (@stacey_klutts) September 28, 2021
Q1 Tough one, but I think the most important thing is to be respectful and consistent. I think we’ll talk more about this, but I can’t understate the value of planting seeds that might not bear fruit for a while. #PWChat
— Stacey Klutts (@stacey_klutts) September 28, 2021
Q2: What have you found to be good sources of info to which you can direct patients & acquaintances, especially if you don’t have time to communicate as completely as you wish? #PWChat pic.twitter.com/zjJB27DiuO
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) September 28, 2021
A2: There is always the CDC, though their content can be dense & hard to navigate. This is one reason I started writing Facebook posts in this area, as there is a gap in resources for easy-to-understand explanations. Interested in hearing from others. #PWChat
— Stacey Klutts (@stacey_klutts) September 28, 2021
A2. Yes. Simplicity is KEY.
I like using @HopkinsMedicine @JohnsHopkinsSPH Corona Virus Resource Center:https://t.co/TU7P7RWwlQ#pwchat— Jasminka Criley MD, FACP, FHM (@criley_md) September 28, 2021
Q3: How have you approached “debunking” specific pieces of mis- and/or dis-information that are presented to you from patients & acquaintances (eg, videos or articles that are clearly incorrect)?#PWChat pic.twitter.com/F9KCg5Hst2
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) September 28, 2021
This is where I have found that if I approach these conversations more like my job rather than just personal, it can be easier to be respectful but consistent on the science. Oh, it’s not easy… #PWChat
— Stacey Klutts (@stacey_klutts) September 28, 2021
A3: I tried doing this point by point for each one sent to me, but that got way too time intensive and exhausting. I have chosen to give 3 or 4 bullet points as to why it is not accurate and then point them to any education I’ve already created on the subject. 1/2 #PWChat
— Stacey Klutts (@stacey_klutts) September 28, 2021
A3: I might also provide links if others have already debunked it in a reasonably understandable way. I keep my responses to each of these handy for copy/paste, as I know I’ll get asked about these more than once. 2/2 #PWChat
— Stacey Klutts (@stacey_klutts) September 28, 2021
Q3 Should this perhaps be a distinct public health role? Like should it be someone’s job to monitor and address the infodemic fires all over the place?
It just seems like this needs focus and a LOT of resources over an above what everyone should do when they can
#pwchat— Matthew Loxton (@mloxton) September 28, 2021
Q4: How have you handled hostility toward recommendations you make that are based on current data? #PWChat pic.twitter.com/C0JbhEIVhe
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) September 28, 2021
A4: These conversations can be difficult and even destabilizing. I simply try to understand WHY they are thinking the way they do and singly dispel myths with understandable accurate information delivered in a logical way. 1/2 #PWChat
— Stacey Klutts (@stacey_klutts) September 28, 2021
A4: I have found that after trying to calmly educate, they at least become less hostile. Even if it doesn’t appear that I have changed any minds on the spot, I possibly have planted that aforementioned seed. 2/2 #PWChat
— Stacey Klutts (@stacey_klutts) September 28, 2021
Q5: If you feel like your professional opinion is being dismissed in favor of misinformation, how have you handled that?#PWChat pic.twitter.com/oHIyKCv2N1
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) September 28, 2021
A5: As above, I try to keep my emotions completely out of it, even if I do feel challenged and even a bit angry at the insinuation that I don’t know my stuff. I then work to dispel the misinformation in the ways I noted previously. #PWChat
— Stacey Klutts (@stacey_klutts) September 28, 2021
Q6: What opportunities have you had to engage a broad audience about issues relating to #COVID (eg. parents group, county board, community club) & how was the information relayed & received? #PWChat pic.twitter.com/dMrcCGv1S2
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) September 28, 2021
A6: I’ve had more invitations than I have been able to honor. I have given a few talks to local groups, but they were not at all contentious. It must be noted that I live in a rather scientifically inclined community, however. #PWChat 1/2
— Stacey Klutts (@stacey_klutts) September 28, 2021
A6: Information was relayed via Zoom meetings using a short 20 min overview of Delta variant, mRNA vaccines, etc. #PWChat 2/2
— Stacey Klutts (@stacey_klutts) September 28, 2021
Clarifying the elevation of #healthliteracy should NOT be laid at the feet of healthcare ecosystem to make reality. Our public school systems require a semester of health ed for high school graduation. Woefully inadequate. Strategies to preserve health should be pervasive #pwchat
— Stacey Tinianov (@coffeemommy) September 28, 2021
Pervasive AND ingrained in our culture. It’s not. Question is how to turn that tide. Maybe it is as simple as changing curriculum at grade and high school levels? #PWChat
— Stacey Klutts (@stacey_klutts) September 28, 2021
And, to be fair, many of those seeking office are lacking in health/science literacy competecies as well. We have a LOT of work to do to make science/medicine/health accessible AND understandable. And, until we do, mis/dis information will continue to muck things up. #pwchat
— Stacey Tinianov (@coffeemommy) September 28, 2021
Q7: How have you used social media or other non-traditional science/medical forms of communications to inform others about issues relating to the #pandemic? #PWChat pic.twitter.com/nPKP6mnrWA
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) September 28, 2021
A7: The disinformation is online, so that is where we need to place the accurate information alongside. This has been a huge part of my personal approach toward educating friends, colleagues and the public. 1/2 #PWChat
— Stacey Klutts (@stacey_klutts) September 28, 2021
I share facebook lives I do for our organization (@NebraskaMed )to help provide information & answer questions! Always helpful to provide information in various formats. #PWChat
— Kelly Cawcutt MD MS (@KellyCawcuttMD) September 28, 2021
A7: I started with a Facebook post in early Aug that went rather ‘viral’ and have followed that up with a series of posts on COVID related topics as mentioned before. I am still getting lots of comments, even on the older posts 2/2 #PWChat
— Stacey Klutts (@stacey_klutts) September 28, 2021
A7: The awareness on how families and friends of #patients affected during the #pandemic was nowhere near the attention it deserved.@HospitalsTalkTo was created with the aim of sharing experiences faced by the #community using social media.#HospitalsTalkToLovedOnes #PWChat
— Faisal Nawaz (@NawazFaisal_ai) September 28, 2021
Q8: What other general recommendations can you make in regard to engaging patients, acquaintances, & the public on issues relating to the #pandemic and/or #PublicHealth? #PWChat pic.twitter.com/crOEEVNdBQ
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) September 28, 2021
A8: Keep it simple. You need not information dump just because you can. Keep it real and talk to others like you’d explain it to your grandma. Always be respectful, as most folks are just confused. Finally, always be honest and say ‘I don’t know’ if you don’t. #PWChat
— Stacey Klutts (@stacey_klutts) September 28, 2021
A8 – Listen to understand before you speak as often as possible. Then engage in discussion using data that is understandable, and meet people where they are with understanding. Offer to discuss again as needed. Give grace & be kind. #PWChat
— Kelly Cawcutt MD MS (@KellyCawcuttMD) September 28, 2021
We’re officially out of time, but PLEASE, let’s keep this very important discussion going!
In the meantime, we give special thanks to @stacey_klutts for co-hosting and thank you all for joining and providing great insights and thoughts!#PWChat pic.twitter.com/yxv6UjI22U
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) September 28, 2021
