title: Science, pseudoscience, and the frontline practitioner: the vaccination/autism debate.
abstract: This article demonstrates how misinformation concerning autism and vaccinations was created and suggests that social workers may be perfectly poised to challenge pseudoscience interpretations. Utilizing social network theory, this article illustrates how erroneous research, mass media, and public opinion led to a decreased use of vaccinations in the United States and a seven-fold increase in measles outbreaks. It traces the dissemination of spurious research results and demonstrates how information was transmitted via a system of social network nodes and community ties. This article encourages social workers, as frontline knowledge brokers, to counter misinformation, which may lead to significant public health consequences.
authors.affiliation: a School of Social Work, Simmons College , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Erina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000209:etiology*; D003142:Communication; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media; D008457:Measles; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015980:Public Health Practice; D011639:Public Opinion; D012586:Science; D012944:Social Support; D012947:Social Work; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine
keywords: Vaccinations; autism; misinformation; social network theory; social work