Attitudes towards COVID-19-Related Medical Misinformation among Healthcare Workers and Non-Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia during the Pandemic: An Online Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Since the SARS-CoV-2 virus caused a global pandemic, the amount of misinformation in various media outlets has been on the rise. This has caused confusion among both healthcare workers and the general population about what the proper precautions against COVID-19 are. This study investigated attitudes towards misinformation related to protective measures that can be taken against COVID-19. The study was conducted in Saudi Arabia using an online survey questionnaire during the first three months of lockdown responding to the pandemic. The sample size of the study was N = 1294, of which 275 were healthcare workers and 974 were non-healthcare workers. The findings indicate that the Saudi Arabian population has a “Neutral” attitude towards COVID-19-related misinformation, meaning that, overall, they neither agree nor disagree with the most common COVID-19-related misinformation. Both healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers displayed a “Neutral” attitude towards herbal remedies for COVID-19. The level of agreement regarding the SARS-CoV-2 virus remaining in the throat for two days and the BCG vaccine protecting against COVID-19 was low. The findings of this research imply that knowledge dissemination is severely lacking in Saudi Arabia and that the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia should sincerely consider educating healthcare workers better about verified and true information regarding COVID-19. Conclusion: Future research should include larger sample sizes for each of the healthcare specialties surveyed in this study and analyse their attitudes towards COVID-19 misinformation.

Perspectives on Mass Media and Governmental Measures during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic in a Romanian Sample of Healthcare Practitioners

“…Interestingly, a negative relation was found between appraising information as "insufficient" and "useful" and stress-related variables, pointing to a tendency in our sample to experience less stress as the information appeared more useful but also scarcer. Hence, in line with other studies [3,[32][33][34], such findings suggest a need for filtered quality information in our HCP sample. In addition, they may indicate a certain detachment from the surge of information characteristic to the COVID-19 pandemic or a need to protect themselves against the infodemic.…”

“…According to the World Health Organization, the COVID-19 pandemic has generated an infodemic (i.e., an abundance of digital or physical information that includes false or misleading news and causes confusion, disinformation, insecurity, and mistrust in government officials and health authorities) [ 1 ]. Besides mass media, the rapid spread of information through the Internet and social media contributed significantly to this phenomenon and hindered accurate and reliable information [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. A meta-analysis on mainstream and social media information sources reflected the infodemic’s expansion, revealing 2311 reports from 87 countries containing COVID-19 related information, of which 82% were false [ 7 ].…”

“…For instance, a qualitative study on US participants [ 34 ] found that many HCPs appraised information as overflooding, confusing, inaccurate, or biased, despite reporting competence in choosing sources (i.e., high levels of health literacy). A study on SaudiArabian HCPs and non-HCPs revealed a common “neutral” attitude towards false information related to COVID-19 treatment methods, issuing recommendations towards training HCP on filtering information [ 3 ]. A study on HCPs in Uganda revealed a high level of agreement with national information guidelines and access to bona fide information despite misinformation endorsed by the general population [ 35 ].…”

COVID-19 and Saudi Arabia: Awareness, Attitude, and Practice

“… 412 participants Online questionnaire A sufficient combination of relatively good levels of KAP serves as a good approach to preventing the spread of COVID-19. Alotiby AA, Al-Harbi/ Jun 2021 76 Attitudes towards COVID-19-Related Medical Misinformation among Healthcare Workers and Non-Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia during the Pandemic: An Online Cross-Sectional Survey. 1294 participants Online questionnaire The Saudi Arabian population has a “Neutral” attitude toward COVID-19-related misinformation.…”

Prevalence and Perception Among Saudi Arabian Population About Resharing of Information on Social Media Regarding Natural Remedies as Protective Measures Against COVID-19

“…3 Among natural remedies, herbal remedies was one of the rumors which was highly recirculated on social media and on different platforms, as well as having published research articles, from the idea that natural remedies would be harmless and its use would be without side effects [22][23][24] .While herbal remedies and herbal products are not discouraged to be taken, they should not be considered a sole cure for COVID-19, as the management of COVID-19 does not exist, except for reducing the chances of transmission through vaccination. The concern is that if more people believed in unverified claims of natural remedies, 25 and did not proactively stop the recirculation of the information regarding the use of natural remedies to protect against COVID-19, then actual actionable steps would go unprioritized. 26,27 This was significantly observed in Saudi Arabia.…”