Introduction:

The Coronavirus pandemic brought with it an infodemic, which is an excess of information that, in environments with low critical analysis and a lack of technical-scientific knowledge, generates propitious ground for the emergence and dissemination of fake news. In Brazil, these weaknesses are widely found among the elderly, which represents 13% of the population and the majority of absolute and functional illiterates, making them both victims and propagators.

Experience Report:

A multicenter activity was carried out based on the pilot project by Faculdade Evangélica Mackenzie do Paraná, which promoted health education for the elderly population through social networks and online communication. Thus, medical students made themselves available to clarify their doubts and other myths related to COVID-19 and share informational materials. Twelve medical schools in the southern region of Brazil replicated the project from 4th July to 6th August 2020, with the aim of combating fake news and encouraging the creation of communication channels with this population.

Discussion:

Digital inclusion of the elderly is recent and the proportion of elderly people who are Internet users has been growing in the country. However, there is still a low critical interpretation of information, difficulty in keeping up with the news flow and lack of skill with Internet tools. In this sense, giving prominence to this digitally invisible population and allowing the expansion of geriatric medical knowledge during the pandemic by increasing students’ contact with the demands of the elderly, is an effective way of enabling a greater understanding about the vulnerabilities and needs of the elderly regarding health education.

Conclusion:

The construction of a communication channel between students and the elderly is an innovative possibility for this group to enjoy easy access to scientific information, raising awareness concerning the coronavirus and fake news.

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