How can we recognize false health information? Why does medical misinformation spread so quickly? And how should public health communication be designed to strengthen trust in science rather than reinforce myths? These were the key questions explored during the on-site part of the international Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) “Public Health and Health Literacy in the Age of Medical Misinformation and Infodemics,” held from 18–22 May 2026 at Wroclaw Medical University and funded by the Erasmus+ programme.
Organized by the Faculty of Health Sciences, the event became part of the university’s 2026 social campaign “Zdrowiej wiedzieć” (“Healthier to Know”), aimed at raising awareness about medical misinformation, strengthening health literacy, and developing critical thinking skills related to health content circulating in the media, online platforms, and social networks.
The programme brought together students of health-related disciplines from across Europe. After completing the online component, participants met in Wrocław to work collaboratively on practical solutions related to health education, public communication, and combating infodemics. International teamwork played a particularly important role, allowing students to examine medical misinformation from the perspective of different healthcare systems, communication cultures, and social experiences.
– When designing the BIP, our goal was not only to transfer knowledge, but also to create situations in which students could practice attentiveness to the audience. In public health, scientific accuracy alone is not enough if the message does not reach people together with their questions, concerns, and everyday habits. That is why combining the academic perspective with practical and responsible communication about health was so important to us, says Dr. Alicja Basiak-Rasała from the Department of Population Research and Prevention of Civilization Diseases, organizer and coordinator of the event and Faculty Erasmus+ Coordinator.
During the programme, participants discussed the mechanisms behind the creation and spread of false health narratives, the importance of fact-checking, the role of new technologies and artificial intelligence in medicine, and ways to strengthen society’s informational resilience. Students analyzed how to distinguish evidence-based information from manipulated, emotional, or pseudoscientific content. Another important aspect of the programme was responsible communication, not only transferring knowledge, but also building trust and supporting safe health-related decision-making.
The project involved experts representing public health, health education, communication, and new technologies. Sessions were led by Dr. Agnieszka Siennicka, Dr. Dorota Sikora, Prof. Dagmara Gaweł-Dąbrowska, Dr. Andrzej Jarynowski, Dr. Jolanta Grzebieluch, Dr. Janina Kulińska, Dr. Monika Wójta-Kempa, and Dr. Alicja Basiak-Rasała. The programme also featured a lecture by Robert Otok, Director of ASPHER, dedicated to the professionalization of the public health workforce and challenges facing modern healthcare systems.
One of the most important outcomes of the week-long programme were student projects promoting reliable health information. Participants designed their own educational campaigns and communication materials aimed at counteracting medical misinformation. As a result, the programme extended beyond theory and became a space for creating practical communication tools that may support society in making more informed health decisions.
The international BIP demonstrated that combating medical misinformation requires not only scientific knowledge, but also cooperation, empathy, an understanding of communication mechanisms, and the ability to respond to the needs of diverse social groups. These competencies are becoming increasingly essential for future public health professionals.
The event also provided an opportunity for student integration, exchange of experiences, and building international academic and professional networks. Its message strongly reflected the idea behind the “Zdrowiej wiedzieć” campaign: in a world overloaded with information, health begins with the ability to recognize whom and what to trust.