JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Health misinformation is a public health concern. Various stakeholders have called on healthcare professionals to be more proactive in correcting health misinformation on social media.

Objective:

To identify healthcare professionals’ motivations in correcting health misinformation on social media, the barriers they face in doing this, and their recommendations to overcome such barriers.

Methods:

In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 U.S. healthcare professionals composed of 15 registered nurses and 15 medical doctors. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results:

Healthcare professionals are personally (e.g., personal choice) and professionally (e.g., to fulfill the responsibility of a healthcare professional) motivated to correct health misinformation on social media. However, they also face intrapersonal (e.g., lack of positive outcome and time), interpersonal (e.g., harassment and bullying), and institutional (e.g., lack of institutional support and social media training) barriers to correct health misinformation on social media. To overcome these barriers, participants recommend healthcare professionals get misinformation and social media training, including building their social media presence.

Conclusions:

Healthcare professionals are willing to correct health misinformation on social media despite several barriers in doing such an act. Nonetheless, the study provides recommendations that can be used to overcome such barriers. Overall, the findings can be used by health authorities and organizations to guide policies and activities aiming at encouraging more healthcare professionals to be on social media to counteract health misinformation.