Table 2.

Search terms and databases

A. Misinformation-related terms [MEDLINE] misinformation [keyword] OR disinformation [keyword] OR hoax [keyword] OR deception [MeSH] OR rumo* [keyword] OR superstition [keyword, MeSH] OR misconception [keyword] OR misperception [keyword] OR fake news [keyword] OR false news [keyword] OR misleading information [keyword]

B. Disease outbreak-related terms [MEDLINE] infectious disease [keyword] OR communicable disease [MeSH] OR virus OR viruses [MeSH] OR outbreak [keyword] OR disease outbreaks [MeSH] OR Ebola OR Ebola vaccines [MeSH] OR Hemorrhagic fever, Ebola [MeSH] OR Zika OR Zika virus [MeSH] OR Zika virus infection [MeSH] OR SARS [Keyword] OR SARS virus [MeSH] Coronavirus infections [MeSH] OR Betacoronavirus [MeSH] OR Coronavirus [Keyword, MeSH] OR Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome [MeSH] OR MERS [keyword] OR Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus [MeSH] OR Swine flu [Keyword] OR Influenza A virus, H1N1 Subtype [MeSH] OR COVID-19 Searched using (All ‘A’ terms) AND (All ‘B’ terms)

For Google Scholar [first 10 pages to be collected for each search] Four cumulative searches due to the limitation of characters in the search box. Selected the results of the first 10 pages (100 results) for each search. Search 1: misinformation AND (“infectious disease” OR “communicable disease” OR virus OR outbreak OR Ebola OR Zika OR SARS OR Coronavirus OR “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome” OR MERS OR “Middle East Respiratory Syndrome” OR “Swine flu” OR “H1N1 virus” OR COVID-19) Search 2: disinformation AND (“infectious disease” OR “communicable disease” OR virus OR outbreak OR Ebola OR Zika OR SARS OR Coronavirus OR “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome” OR MERS OR “Middle East Respiratory Syndrome” OR “Swine flu” OR “H1N1 virus” OR COVID-19) Search 3: misperception AND (“infectious disease” OR “communicable disease” OR virus OR outbreak OR Ebola OR Zika OR SARS OR Coronavirus OR “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome” OR MERS OR “Middle East Respiratory Syndrome” OR “Swine flu” OR “H1N1 virus” OR COVID-19) Search 4: (“fake news”) AND (“infectious disease” OR “communicable disease” OR virus OR outbreak OR Ebola OR Zika OR SARS OR Coronavirus OR “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome” OR MERS OR “Middle East Respiratory Syndrome” OR “Swine flu” OR “H1N1 virus” OR COVID-19)