Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42106840›Full record

SynthesisBMC psychology2026

Older adults and online health misinformation: a systematic literature review.

Hongchao Hu, Guangyao Jin, Xiaomeng Zhang

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Hongchao HuSchool of Humanities and Social Sciences, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, China.
Guangyao JinSchool of Journalism and Communication, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China. guangyaojin@jnu.edu.cn.
Xiaomeng ZhangSchool of New Media, Peking University, Beijing, China.

Funding

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities No. 12625311National Social Science Fund Youth Project No. 24CXW053
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

As older adults increasingly rely on the internet for health-related information, concerns about their vulnerability to online health misinformation have intensified. This systematic literature review synthesizes findings from 26 empirical studies published between 2000 and 2024 to examine how older adults interact with health misinformation in digital contexts. The review identifies a complex interplay of factors contributing to their susceptibility, including cognitive decline, gaps in digital and health literacy, emotional and psychological influences, and the role of social relationships. However, most studies lack theoretical grounding, platform-specific analysis, and geographical diversity. Conceptual inconsistencies and a COVID-19 research bias further limit generalizability. The review calls for clearer definitions, interdisciplinary approaches, and targeted interventions to address this urgent public health issue and provide a foundation for designing more targeted and effective interventions.

Indexed as

CommunicationHealth CommunicationHealth LiteracyInternetSocial MediaAgedCOVID-19Digital MediaHumansHealth communicationHealth misinformationOlder adultsSocial mediaSystematic literature review

Identifiers

PMID42106840
PMCPMC13326225

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.