The role of social media literacy in infodemic management: a systematic review

Background

The term infodemic refers to the proliferation of both accurate and inaccurate information that creates a challenge in identifying trustworthy and credible sources. Among the strategies employed to mitigate the impact of the infodemic, social media literacy has emerged as a significant and effective approach. This systematic review examines the role of social media literacy in the management of the infodemic.

Methods

Six databases, including SID, Magiran, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar and Web of Science were systematically searched using relevant keywords. We included the relevant publications between 2012 and 2023 in our analysis. To ensure a qualitative assessment of the studies, we used the STROBE and AMSTAR checklists as evaluation tools. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guideline was used for the design of this review study. Finally, we organized the studies into groups based on similarities and retrieved and analyzed evidence pertaining to the challenges and opportunities identified.

Results

Eleven papers were included in this study after reviewing the retrieved studies. Five of them examined the effect of social media literacy and health literacy on acceptance of health behaviors. Four studies investigated the role of media literacy in managing misinformation and fake news related to health. Two studies focused on infodemic management and promoting citizen engagement during health crises. Results showed that health-related infodemics are derived from the users' lack of media knowledge, distrust of government service systems, local influencers and peers, rapid circulation of information through mass media messages, weakness of solutions proposed by health care providers, failure to pay attention to the needs of the audience, vertical management, and inconsistency of published messages.

Conclusion

The findings of this study highlight the importance of increasing social media literacy among the general public as a recognized strategy for managing the infodemic. Consequently, it is recommended that relevant organizations and institutions, such as the Ministry of Health, develop targeted training programs to effectively address this need.

Teaching adults how to prevent COVID-19 infection by health workers: The application of intervention mapping approach

INTRODUCTION

Education is one of the most important approaches to preventing infectious diseases at the time of the pandemic. The purpose of the study was to develop an intervention-training program using an intervention mapping approach (IMA) to prevent COVID-19 infection in adults at the time of the pandemic by health workers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study was a study protocol where IMA was used as a planning framework for developing an intervention-training program to prevent COVID-19 infection in adults at the time of the pandemic by health workers in Ardabil city. Six intervention mapping (IM) steps have been described in this protocol. As the first step, needs assessment was performed by reviewing the studies, qualitative evaluation, and interviews. In the second step, the matrix of change objectives was designed from the intersection of performance goals and determinants. Later on, after designing the program and planning the program implementation, the program evaluation plan was developed.

RESULTS

IMA guided us in designing and implementing a control-oriented training program with the participation of the participants along with the definition of outcomes, performance goals and determinants, theoretical methods and practical applications, intervention program, implementation, and step by step assessment.

CONCLUSION

IM is a control-oriented, systematic, participation-based approach to design and implement targeted and on-going health promotion programs based on the needs of the target group at the time of the pandemic by health workers.

The effectiveness of self-management program for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus based on PRECEDE-PROCEDE model

AIMS

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide that requires a person with diabetes to make a multitude of daily self-management decisions. This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-management program based on PRECEDE-PROCEDE model on self-management behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

This experimental study was conducted on 86 diabetic patients referred to the diabetes clinics in Ardabil, Iran, in 2017. From a total of 326 patients with diabetes medical records in those clinics, 86 (26.3%) patients agreed to participate in this study. They were then randomly divided into two groups; intervention (n = 43) and control (n = 43). The intervention group received eight sessions of PRECEDE model-based self-management education program while the control group did not receive any education program. Both groups were assessed at baseline and six months after the intervention.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 55.69 ± 12.04 years (range 32-86 years). 41 patients were men, and 45 were women. The mean time since the first diagnosis of diabetes was 8.6 years (SD = 5.2), and the mean BMI of the patients was 31.63 (SD = 4.20). At baseline, 35.01% of patients had poor self-management behaviors. All PRECEDE variables, including predisposing factors (knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy), enabling factors, and reinforcing factors, as well as self-management behaviors, were significantly improved in those of intervention group after the education program.

CONCLUSION

Self-management education program substantially enhances the self-management behaviors in patients with type two diabetes.

Effect of educational intervention based on PRECEDE-PROCEED model combined with self-management theory on self-care behaviors in type 2 diabetic patients

AIMS

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic and progressive disease which requires ongoing medical care as well as patient's self-care skills to prevent acute complications. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model combined with self-management theory on self-care behaviors in type 2 diabetic patients.

METHODS

In this semi-experimental study, 86 type 2 diabetic patients referred to the diabetes clinic of Ardabil were randomly selected and divided into two groups (n = 43). Patients in group 1 received educations based on PRECEDE-PROCEED model combined with self-management theory while patients in group 2 received only educations based on PRECEDE-PROCEED model. The self-made questionnaire was used to measure demographic information and PRECEDE-PROCEED model variables at baseline and one month after the intervention.

RESULTS

The mean scores of knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy (p = 0.001), self-care (p = 0.001), enabling factors, and reinforcing factors had significant differences in both groups before and after the intervention (p < 0.05). In addition, one month after the intervention, the mean scores of attitude, self-efficacy, self-care, and reinforcing factors were significantly higher in group 1 compared to group 2.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate the effectiveness of an educational intervention based on PRECEDE-PROCEED model combined with self-management theory to improve self-care behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The effect of intervention using the PRECEDE-PROCEED model based on quality of life in diabetic patients

BACKGROUND

Poor quality of life is common among diabetic patients, and educational intervention is one of the most effective strategies to improve the quality of life for chronic patients.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effect of an educational intervention based on PRECEDE-PROCEED in quality of life of diabetic patients, in 2016.

METHODS

In this quasi-experimental study, 86 patients referred to diabetic centers of Ardabil participated. We used the components PRECEDE-PROCEED model for planning, implementation and evaluation of the program. Data collection tools were Diabetes Quality of Life questionnaire (DQOL) and a researcher-made questionnaire. Eight training sessions were conducted for the intervention group for self-efficiency, self- management, attitude, knowledge, and enabling reinforcing factors. Quality of life was followed one and three months after intervention. Data were analyzed through SPSS 16 software using descriptive and analytical tests.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 55.88 (±12.1) years. The result showed that before intervention, no significant difference was observed among the mean scores of quality of life, self-management, knowledge, attitude, enabling and reinforcing factors, and self-efficiency in two groups. But one and three months after intervention a significant difference was observed (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Educational intervention with PRECEDE-PROCEED model improved the diabetic patient's quality of life.