Authors
Sanam Borji-Navan, Leila Doshmangir, Mojgan Mirghafourvand
Published in
Health promotion perspectives. Volume 16. Issue 2. Pages 184-191. Epub Aug 21, 2026.
Abstract
The digital space is the primary source of health information for peoples, yet it is saturated with sexual health misinformation. This infodemic poses a direct threat to public health. Current interventions are proving insufficient against this challenge, creating a need for innovative and comprehensive health policy.
This policy brief was developed using the evidence-informed framework described by Lavis et al., following a four-step process: prioritization of the issue, problem identification, formulation of policy options, and identification of implementation considerations. High-level evidence was derived from an umbrella review evaluating digital intervention efficacy and from preliminary findings of a scoping review mapping educational gaps (currently under peer review).
The evidence synthesis reveals critical systemic deficits, primarily: an engagement gap, a content gap, and a trust deficit. Traditional interventions fail to compete with misinformation due to these structural limitations. To operationalize a secure digital ecosystem, this brief proposes five actionable policy options: (1) Establishing a Digital Health Innovation Fund; (2) Enforcing a Mandatory National e-Health Trust Certification; (3) Revising National Guidelines; (4) Institutionalizing a Specialized Governance Body; and (5) Implementing a National Digital Health Literacy Program.
By operationalizing these evidence-based options, policymakers can transform the digital space from a source of risk into a reliable infrastructure for health promotion, serving as a replicable model for other nations facing similar challenges.
PMID:
42968788
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 02 Nov 2026.
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