Fighting Fake Health News: A Fun Way to Learn

Healthcare workers often face patients who believe false information about diseases. This can make their jobs harder. A new teaching method is trying to change that. It combines learning with entertainment. This method is called edutainment. The idea is simple. First, students learn about false health information. Then, they watch TV shows where patients talk about these false beliefs. Finally, they rewrite the scenes using a special talking method called motivational interviewing. This method helps patients feel understood and listened to.A small group of students tried this method. Most were women and white. After the lessons, they felt more comfortable talking to patients about false health beliefs. They also got better at spotting false information. Many said they would use empathy more when talking to patients. Empathy is a big part of motivational interviewing. This teaching method could work for other health students too. It's easy to change and use in different places. It might help future healthcare workers deal with false health information better. But, is this the best way to teach? It's fun and engaging. But does it really prepare students for real-life situations? Only time will tell.