Digital Marketing: A Unique Multidisciplinary Approach towards the Elimination of Viral Hepatitis

Abstract

New technologies are supported by the global implementation of the internet. These improvements have deeply affected various disciplines of sciences and consequently changed services such as daily business, particularly health sectors. Innovative digital marketing strategies utilize the channels of social media and retrieved user data to analyze and improve relevant services. These multidisciplinary innovations can assist specialists, physicians and researchers in diagnostic, prophylaxis and treatment issues in the health sector. Accordingly, compared to recent decades, health decision makers are more accurate and trustful in defining new strategies. Interestingly, using social media and mobile health apps in current pandemics of SARS-CoV-2 could be an important instance of the key role of these platforms at the local and global level of health policies. These digital technologies provide platforms to connect public health sectors and health politicians for communicating and spreading relevant information. Adding influencers and campaigns to this toolbox strengthens the implementation of public health programs. In 2016, the WHO adopted a global program to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030. Recent constructive measures that have been used in the battle against COVID-19 could be adopted for the elimination of viral hepatitis program. The presented evidence in our narrative review demonstrates that the application of digital marketing tools to create campaigns on social media, armed with professional influencers, can efficiently consolidate this program. The application of different strategies in using these popular tools will raise the public awareness about viral hepatitis. Subsequently, the availability of an effective vaccine for HBV and antiviral medication for HCV can motivate the audience to take steps towards prophylaxis and screening methods against these infectious illnesses. The encouragement of health policy makers to apply digital communication technologies and comprehensive roadmaps to implement this global program will certainly decrease the burden of viral hepatitis worldwide.

The impact and challenges of digital marketing in the health care industry during the digital era and the COVID-19 pandemic

“…According to Nunan and Di Domenico ( 10 ), Purcarea ( 11 ), Purwanto ( 12 ), and Pourkarim et al ( 13 ), digital marketing effects and barriers are something to manage during COVID-19. A digital marketing strategy is adopted to manage work online and persist with safety precautions.…”

Ethics for Disseminating Health-Related Information on YouTube

“…For instance, a positive impact has been achieved by influencers (vloggers) campaigning for hygienic behavior in the context of COVID-19 and other infections. 8 At the same time, negative consequences of vlogger activities have also been reported due to the dissemination of videos on idealistic body image and unhealthy food, causing body image dissatisfaction and anxiety among adolescents and other vulnerable subjects. 9 Overall, surveys of public views have concluded that health news dissemination via social media may have mixed, positive and negative consequences, the latter due to lack of critical expert evaluations, desperate information-seeking behavior of some public representatives, and inability to distinguish scientific facts from misinformation by non-expert users.…”

World Hepatitis Day in 2022: Challenges of Viral Hepatitis Elimination in Elongated COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Recent estimations show that almost two-thirds of the world's HBsAg-positive children (below 5 years) inhabit Africa [6]. Together with the lack of access to screening tests for pregnant women and weak public knowledge about the risk factors of viral hepatitis infection, these limitations can have serious consequences for the viral hepatitis burden in this region [7].…”