Medicine and Science from The BMJ

Heidi Larson on misinformation, the right exercise to reduce depression, and Breathtaking TV

Feb 16, 2024

Heidi Larson, an expert in vaccine confidence, warns about the dangers of health misinformation on social media. Michael Noetel discusses the effectiveness of exercise in controlling depressive symptoms. Rachel Clarke shares her experiences of the pandemic and the inspiration behind her new TV drama.

34:40

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Episode guests

Heidi Larson

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Social media's role in spreading health misinformation underscores the need for transparency and building trust in vaccine confidence.

Specific exercises like strength training, yoga, and running have shown efficacy in alleviating depressive symptoms.

Deep dives

The Legacy of COVID-19: A TV Drama Reflecting the Workforce's Experience

A new TV drama called Breathtaking, based on a book by Rachel Clark, a Palliative Care Doctor in the UK, provides a powerful portrayal of the realities and struggles faced by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The series highlights the disconnect between political messaging and the overwhelming challenges experienced by healthcare professionals, including a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE). It serves as a reminder that the impact of the pandemic continues to affect the lives of those who endured it, emphasizing the need for acknowledgement and support.

Introduction

2min

Exploring Vaccine Confidence and Social Media Influence

2min

Social Media's Role in Vaccine Hesitancy

9min

Addressing Concerns about Generative AI and Importance of Diverse Communication Mediums

3min

Exercise and Mental Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

10min

Exploring Exercise for Depression and Rachel Clark's New Drama Series

9min

Social media, and the rate at which the online world is changing, is worrying - especially the speed at which health disinformation can speed around the globe. We look to tech companies for a solution to the problems of their own making - but Heidi Larson, director of the Vaccine Confidence Project, and professor of anthropology, risk and decision science at LSHTM, joins us to explain why we should be cautious about focussing our attention there.

Next on the podcast, research just published in The BMJ looks at the efficacy of exercise at controlling depressive symptoms - but helps finally answer the key question - which exercise works best. Lead author, Michael Noetel, senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Queensland, joins us to explain the research, and how well exercise stacks up against pharmacological treatments.

Finally, while it’s tempting to try and put the pandemic behind us, its effects linger - and many healthcare staff are still dealing with their experience of that time. Rachel Clarke, a palliative care doctor in the UK, joins us to explain why she has felt the need to document the pandemic, first in a book and now in a new TV drama set to air in the UK next week.

06:15 Heidi Larson on vaccine confidence and social media

15:31 Exploring the effectiveness of exercise for depression

26:56 Rachel Clark on seeing her experiences reflected on screen

Reading list

BMJ Collection: How are social media influencing vaccination

Feature: Medical misinformation on social media—are the platforms equipped to be the judge?

Research: Effect of exercise for depression