COVID-19 public awareness: association with social media use and development of a scoring tool ‘COVID-PAS'

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, raising concern among the general population, and urging them to seek information. Raising awareness and providing essential medical information to broad audiences could be achieved through social media. Methods: We employed a cross-sectional survey design in Lebanon via phone calls. Participants were selected by simple random sampling, using a computer-based random number generator. The questionnaire was composed of 3 sections: Socio-demographics, awareness on COVID-19, and social media use assessment. Awareness was assessed using 30 questions forming the COVID-19 Public Awareness Score (COVID-PAS), and social media use was assessed using questions about participants' daily usage duration and platforms used. Results: A total of 641 participants with a mean age of 49.03 ± 15.36 were included in the study. Their COVID-PAS mean was 21.9 ± 3.8, and 561 (87.5%) were social media users. WhatsApp® and Facebook® were the most used. Multiple linear regression showed that higher educational level (P < 0.001), higher income (P < 0.001), and social media use (P < 0.001) were associated with better scores, while older age (P = 0.001) was associated with lower scores. Radio use (P = 0.01) and information from religious leaders (P < 0.001) were associated with lower scores only in the bivariate analysis. Conclusions: In general, the Lebanese population had a good awareness of COVID-19. Social media users had a significantly higher awareness score than the non-users, but there remains a need to further explore the aspects of social media use that affect their awareness.

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

“…36,37 However, consistent with the findings of other studies regarding judging the validity of information on social media platforms, the Saudi Arabian general population are more likely to judge the validity of information based on their own experience, and deem it beneficial for the public to share COVID-19 related information sans evidence. 10,[16][17][18][19][20][21] Thus, it can be posited that Saudi Arabian general population's perception of COVID-19 related information circulating on social media platforms is of a neutral disposition. While the Saudi Arabian general are less likely to contribute and share medical information with others, and are less likely to share the information without first confirming that it is correct, there are still a small portion of Saudi Arabians who deem it okay to share any COVID-19 related information on social media platforms.…”

“…14,15 A large body of literature support that the general population are willing to share information on social media sans evidence. 10,[16][17][18][19][20][21] Previous studies investigate the effect of the recirculation of misinformation during COVID-19 which for example, the abuse and misuse of chlorine to wrongfully prevent 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.…”