The impact of early scientific literature in response to COVID-19: a scientometric perspective

Davide Golinelli; Andrea Giovanni Nuzzolese; Erik Boetto; Flavia Rallo; Manfredi Greco; Fabrizio Toscano; Maria Pia Fantini

These levels of communication are interconnected. For example, the sudden onset of a new virus forces the scientific community to describe the index-case, by publishing a paper in a scientific journal. Subsequently, if it deems it necessary, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of one Country can indicate the risk for people travelling to the area where the case occurred. A newspaper can later resume the news, which can be shared and commented by individual users on social media. In this framework, misinformation might be the most dangerous and contagious aspect, as underlined by the WHO. Similarly to disease outbreak analysis, a viral content on the internet can also be seen as a chain reaction. Therefore, as misinformation can be considered as a public health threat, in the early stages of a pandemic it is important to contain false information and to disseminate correct data that may come primarily from scientific studies. At the present, it is essential that methodologically solid information is disseminated, both to avoid misinformation and to spread only real world evidence, possibly through peer-reviewed articles. This despite the fact that the peer review at this stage is done less rigorously because of the emergency. It is important that the information gaps are filled, but it is also important to contrast the infodemic with solid information, news and data.