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BACKGROUND: One of the challenges posed by the novel coronavirus pandemic is the infodemic risk, that is, a huge amount of information being published on the topic, along with misinformation and rumours; with social media, this phenomenon is amplified, and it goes faster and further. Around 100 million people in Brazil (50% of the inhabitants) are users of social media networks - almost half of the country's population. Most of the information on the Internet is unregulated, and its quality remains questionable. METHODS: In this study, we examine the main characteristics of misinformation published on the topic. We analysed 232 pieces of misinformation published by the Brazilian fact-checking service "Agência Lupa". The following aspects of each news item were analysed: a) In what social media has it circulated?; b) What is the content classification, sentiment and type of misinformation?; d) Are there recurrent themes in the sample studied? RESULTS: Most were published on Facebook (76%), followed by WhatsApp, with 10% of total cases. Half of the stories (47%) are classified as "real-life", that is, the focus is on everyday situations, or circumstances involving people. Regarding the type of misinformation, there is a preponderance of fabricated content, with 53% of total, followed by false context (34%) and misleading content (13%). Wrong information was mostly published in text format (47%). We found that 92.9% of misinformation classified as "fabricated content" are "health tips", and 88.9% of "virtual scams" are also fabricated. CONCLUSION: Brazilian media and science communicators must understand the main characteristics of misinformation in social media about COVID-19, so that they can develop attractive, up-to-date and evidence-based content that helps to increase health literacy and counteract the spread of false information.

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Facebook is one of the main communication tools in the world nowadays. In Brazil, it is used for almost half of the population. Knowing what is conveyed about cancer by this social network can be an important step for the development of efficient health communication strategies. We evaluate Facebook user's comments on pages about cancer; verify if there is a pattern of public awareness on the disease and compare it with results from other studies. Three pages about cancer on Facebook were selected among those with more followers in Brazil. For 6 months, from January to June 2014, all posts were selected and evaluated, and we created eight categories. On each page, the categories that generated most comments were elected for the second analysis. The behavior of empowered citizens by new communication tools is the target of this study. Similarities and differences between 12,926 comments coming from 1243 posts in three different Facebook pages on cancer were analyzed. Four new categories were identified: "religion," "positive," "negative," and "information." Despite the differences among the three pages selected for this study, we observed the predominance of positive speeches associated with religious terms. Following public perceptions on cancer is an important step for the development of efficient health communication strategies.

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The viewpoints of Brazilian opinion leaders regarding cancer are not yet well defined. Examining public perceptions of three segments of society through a qualitative study may provide clues to understanding the negative view that the population still has about the disease. Journalists, scientists and teachers participated in discussions in six focus group sessions. The findings were studied using the content analysis method, showing similar elements among these professionals, regardless of area of operation. We identified a negative view that may be contributing to or mirroring the vision of society that associates the illness with death and suffering. Although these opinion leaders believe they are able to filter certain negative aspects of media dissemination about cancer, when the disease affects them personally, the feeling of despair resembles common sense. Words such as "cure" are viewed with prejudice. On the other hand, a morbid approach arouses interest on the subject. It was also noted that the disclosure of a celebrity with cancer stands out as a decoy in the consumption of news. Such distortions may support actions that enhance communication about cancer, structured on pillars such as prevention, early diagnosis and cure.

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Introdução: O câncer é uma das doenças mais temidas da atualidade. Pesquisa realizada pelo Instituto Nacional de Câncer José Alencar Gomes da Silva mostrou que o brasileiro associa câncer à dor e a sofrimento. A Organização Mundial da Saúde afirma que as chances de cura são elevadas, se houver um diagnóstico precoce. Nesse sentido, a imprensa pode desempenhar um papel importante, pois contribui na formação de opiniões e atitudes. Objetivo: Este trabalho objetiva investigar como cinco jornais do Brasil divulgam a temática "câncer" em suas primeiras páginas. Método: Esta é uma pesquisa de caráter descritivo-exploratória e foi desenvolvida apoiada no paradigma quanti-qualitativo. Foram analisadas 45 notícias que contêm o termo câncer e apresentam chamadas na primeira página de cinco jornais brasileiros, entre janeiro e julho de 2010. Essas reportagens foram agrupadas em referência mínima e foco em câncer. Desenvolveu-se uma avaliação de caráter otimista/neutro/pessimista do câncer em todas as reportagens estudadas, a partir do estudo de palavras-chave. Resultados: 17,77% das reportagens apresentavam caráter otimista, 66,66% eram neutras e 15,55%, negativas. Das reportagens que fazem referência mínima à doença, 81,5% têm caráter neutro ou otimista; e, entre aquelas sobre câncer, 88% têm caráter neutro ou otimista. Conclusão: A maior parte dessas reportagens possui um enfoque que contrasta com a visão negativa predominante na população. Políticas de saúde pública devem estar atreladas a uma cobertura pela imprensa mais ampla e regular sobre a doença.

Introduction: Cancer is one of the most feared diseases in current days. Research carried out by the National Cancer Institute José Alencar Gomes da Silva showed that Brazilians associate cancer to pain and suffering. The World Health Organization claims that the chances of cure are high if there is an early diagnosis. In this sense, the press plays an important role because it helps to shape opinions and attitudes. Objective: This article aims to investigate how five newspapers in Brazil disclose cancer on their front pages. Method: This is descriptive, exploratory research and was developed based on the quantitative and qualitative paradigm. We analyzed 45 news stories that contain the word 'cancer' and appear on the front page of five Brazilian newspapers, between January and July 2010. These news stories were split into two groups: 'minimum reference' and 'focus on cancer'. We evaluated the positive/neutral/negative content in all investigated texts, studying the keywords that represent those qualities. Results: 17.77% of the news stories are of a positive character; 66.66% are neutral and 15.5% are negative. Considering the news that make a minimum reference to the disease, 81.5% are of a neutral or optimistic character. Considering those whose main subject is cancer, 88% are of a neutral or optimistic character. Conclusion: Most of the news stories studied have an approach that contrasts with the negative view prevalent in the population. Public health policies need to be linked with broader and regular press coverage about the disease.

Introducción: El cáncer es una de las enfermedades más temidas en la actualidad. Una investigación realizada por el Instituto Nacional de Cáncer José Alencar Gomes da Silva demostró, que el brasileño relaciona el cáncer al dolor y al sufrimiento. La Organización Mundial de la Salud informa que las posibilidades de cura son altas cuando el diagnóstico es precoz. En este sentido, los medios de comunicación pueden desempeñar un papel importante, pues contribuyen a la formación de opiniones y actitudes. Objetivo: Este artículo tiene como objetivo investigar como cinco periódicos en Brasil divulgan el cáncer en sus portadas. Método: Este es un estudio de investigación descriptivo y exploratorio. Se analizaron 45 noticias que contienen la palabra 'cáncer' y presenten citas en la primera página de cinco periódicos brasileños. Las noticias fueron agrupadas en dos grupos: 'referencia mínima' y 'foco en cáncer'. Desarrolló una evaluación del contenido optimista/neutro/pesimista del cáncer en todas las noticias estudiadas, a partir de la investigación de palabras clave. Resultados: 17,77% de los reportajes tenían un carácter optimista; 66,66% eran neutrales y 15,55%, negativos. Considerando los reportajes que hacen referencia mínima a la enfermedad, 81,5% tienen carácter neutro u optimista; entre los reportajes sobre cáncer, 88% tienen carácter neutro u optimista. Conclusión: La mayoría de los reportajes tiene un enfoque que contrasta con la visión negativa prevalente en la población. Políticas de salud pública deben estar vinculadas a una cobertura de prensa más amplia y regular sobre la enfermedad.

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