Examining the author allows health professionals to assess their credibility. They can do this by performing a background check, and looking at previous posts. 

External acts of authentication: examining the author

In examining the content, the health professionals are able to see if the claim in the post is consistent with the existing literature. They compare the claim to known, reputable sources to determine if it is misinformation. 

External acts of authentication: examining the content

If internal authentication does not provide enough information to determine the veracity of the claim, health professionals turn to external cues for authenticating the claim. This method involves using external sources rather than one's own knowledge. These include examining the author and examining the content. 

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Through semi-structured interviews, researchers outlined a framework that healthcare professionals use to correct misinformation they come across on social media. These steps include:
- Internal acts of authentication 
- External acts of authentication
- Preparation for correction
- Correction Dissemination

How Healthcare Professionals Correct Health Misinformation Online

Bautista, J. R., Zhang, Y., & Gwizdka, J. (2021). Healthcare professionals’ acts of correcting health misinformation on social media. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 148(104375). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2021.104375

Healthcare professionals’ acts of correcting health misinformation on social media

Internal acts of authentication health information are when the professional uses their medical knowledge to assess a health-related claim. This includes using cues about the author, checking for cues in the text, and checking the topic of the post. 

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