Volume 5, Issue 2, 2025

The Role of Social Media Platforms in Combating Health Misinformation among the Jordanian public from the perspective of Jordanian pharmacists

Prof. Hani Al-Badri -Middle East University, Amman – Jordan

pages:33

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The proliferation of health-related misinformation constitutes a serious threat to public health security. Pharmacists, as healthcare professionals, play a crucial role in addressing this phenomenon by increasing public awareness and dispelling misconceptions. The present study seeks to examine the role of social media platforms in mitigating health misinformation among the Jordanian public from the perspective of practicing pharmacists in Jordan. Adopting a descriptive survey methodology, the study employed a structured questionnaire distributed to a random sample of 480 pharmacists. The findings indicated that platforms such as WhatsApp (mean score = 4.43) and Facebook (mean score = 3.92) were the most frequently utilized. The primary motivation for engaging with social media platforms was to follow health-related news (mean score = 4.23). Moreover, the results revealed that misinformation concerning pharmaceuticals and natural remedies was the most prevalent (52.6% of responses). Key challenges included the rapid dissemination of disinformation and limited public awareness. Based on these findings, the researcher recommended the establishment of a network of “Digital Health Ambassadors,” comprising young pharmacists, to counteract misinformation through interactive initiatives. The implementation of this recommendation is proposed to be undertaken by the Jordan Pharmacists Association in collaboration with information technology companies and civil society organizations.

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