Bernd Kerschner

Bernd Kerschner serves as an Academic Associate at Cochrane Austria within the University for Continuing Education Krems, focusing on evidence-based health information systems and critical health literacy initiatives in Krems, Austria. His work bridges academic research with public health communication through the global Cochrane collaboration network.

Dr. Kerschner's research centers on combating health misinformation through systematic review methodologies and practical tool development. Key areas include digital health literacy assessment (e.g., iWISE checklist), journalist training for evidence-based health reporting, and mental health analysis in vulnerable populations like refugees. His projects address critical gaps in health information quality during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Analysis of his 2013-2024 publications reveals a consistent trajectory toward real-world application of evidence synthesis. Early work debunked medical/nutrition myths (2014-2016), evolving into systematic reviews of refugee mental health (2018-2019) and culminating in digital health literacy tools (2023-2024). The research demonstrates increasing methodological sophistication from quantitative media analysis to mixed-methods interventions targeting social media misinformation.

As principal investigator, Dr. Kerschner has secured substantial funding from EU programs, Austrian federal states, and public institutions for projects including HealthCheckR (social media health information verification), EUCanScreen (cancer screening evaluation), and multiple Medizin Transparent iterations. His grant portfolio emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers, journalists, and healthcare providers to translate evidence into public health practice.

Dr. Kerschner actively contributes to Cochrane Austria's evidence synthesis infrastructure and participates in the university's interdisciplinary Critical Health Literacy research group. His recent workshops for journalists and public audiences (e.g., Volkshochschulen Wien, AUVA) demonstrate commitment to knowledge translation through the MedBusters initiative and rapid review methodologies.