Writer: Naisha Deepak
The Role of Social Media in Spreading Medical Misinformation
Social media has been the lifeline for many kinds of information for generations, from fashion to food, and even to health. Now you can get any information you need within seconds, but if we know one thing about social media, we know that it is not always spreading the truth. According to the National Library of Medicine, societies switching from in-person contact to relying on social media during COVID-19 for medical information backfired with an increased number of incidents of misinformation and disinformation. [1] One example of social media being used to share medical details is the Macao Government using their Facebook page to distribute COVID-19 insights to its citizens. [1] Social media has changed perspectives and views on how we see information today, and those who can't, or refuse, to fact check the information they find face certain consequences.
The Impact of Medical Misinformation on Vaccine Hesitancy
Social media has spread many narratives, but vaccine information was one of the most impactful hits. Many websites spread false claims regarding vaccine side effects that forced a huge population to question the impact the vaccine could have on one's health, whether it'd be positive or negative. [2] There was also research being conducted in regards to the vaccine's effectiveness and some of that data was unfortunately misinterpreted, once again spreading false information. [2][3] Additionally, with social media and its large platform consisting of many influencers, conspiracy theories were constantly spread about the COVID-19 vaccine which warped the truth, particularly when it came to the side effects of the vaccine.
Combating Medical Misinformation Through Healthcare Providers’ Education
Thankfully, this very misleading and possibly dangerous trend has been mitigated through proper education. Many platforms are opening their doors to actual medical professionals who communicate and confirm information with clinically proven research backed up by their degrees and other forms of verification. Clinical offices have opened up programs that train medical professionals and patients alike on how to address medical misinformation. For example, Duke University offers a Duke Program on Medical Misinformation that is “designed to increase clinicians’ capabilities in responding to medical misinformation.” [4] Other organizations such as the AAMC have awarded over 5 sub-grants to academic medical centers to strategize on how to mitigate medical misinformation. [5] The National Institute of Health promotes books, articles, and web pages with clinical research that is expert verified and correct. They also promote “WE CAN TAKE ACTION” in which they promote the idea of “positively engaging with patients and the public on health misinformation”. [6] It really all comes down to one thing: we as a society need to understand the power of social media and acknowledge the importance of verifying every piece of information we receive, especially in regards to medical information and health.
Cultural Sensitivity in Addressing Medical Misinformation
The general consensus with medical misinformation is a need for a cultural reset. We as a society need to combat medical misinformation by starting to be more educated ourselves. According to the National Institute of Health, a roundtable on Health Literacy explored the challenges in regards to battling medical misinformation, and a virtual workshop was created to understand the role of fact checking organizations and the technology behind the information shared. [7] This advocacy for health literacy workshops has brought new visions and perspectives that understand the importance of verifications alongside fact checking. These workshops demonstrate and explain the difference between reliable and unreliable sources of information, which is essential for populations of people who may not know how to differentiate. Overall, our society needs to acknowledge the problems we face and understand that the only way we can move past misleading claims on social media and the internet is by staying educated ourselves and paying attention to reliable sources.
Sources & Works Cited
[1] “The role of Social Media in Health Misinformation and Disinformation during Covid 19 Pandemic: Bibliometric Analysis”, September 20, 2023, National Library of Medicine, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10551800/
[2] “Misinformation and Covid 19 vaccine hesitancy”, November 14th, 2022, National Library of Medicine, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9659512/#:~:text=During%20the%20COVID%2D19%20pandemic,to%20deceive%20or%20control%20others.
[3] “Vaccine misinformation spreads as Children head back to school”, September 12th, 2024, KFF, https://www.kff.org/the-monitor/vaccine-misinformation-spreads-as-children-head-back-to-school/
[4] “Duke program on Medical Misinformation”, Duke, https://ctsi.duke.edu/medical-misinformation
[5] “Mitigating Health Misinformation in Medical Education”, AAMC, https://www.aamc.org/about-us/mission-areas/medical-education/mitigating-health-misinformation
[6] “WE CAN TAKE ACTION”, National Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572168/
[7] “Addressing health Misinformation with Health Literacy Strategies”, National Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK565935/
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