A recent cross-sectional study from the faculty of dentistry at Damascus University sheds light on the usage of social media (SM) for health information, focusing on dental queries. Out of 301 questionnaires collected, 291 were analyzed, revealing that 96.6% of participants used multiple SM apps, with Facebook being the most popular at 71.5%. Notably, many respondents expressed skepticism about the trustworthiness of medical information on social media, and a significant majority still prefer traditional consultation with dentists for health issues over online advice. The findings emphasize a critical need to address health misinformation and educate users about reliable sources.
Understanding the methods and prevalence of health misinformation is crucial for guiding future research and developing strategies to combat its spread on social media.
The study found that while a majority of participants use social media to seek dental information, many express skepticism regarding the trustworthiness of that information.
Despite the high usage of social media for health advice, most respondents still prefer visiting a dentist for medical issues rather than following online advice.
The significant variances in age-related responses highlight the need for targeted educational efforts about health information reliability on social media platforms.
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