Social Media and COVID-19-Perceptions and Public Deceptions of Ivermectin, Colchicine and Hydroxychloroquine: Lessons for Future Pandemics

The capacity for social media to influence the utilization of re-purposed medicines to manage COVID-19, despite limited availability of safety and efficacy data, is a cause for concern within health care systems. This study sought to ascertain links between social media reports and utilization for t...

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Main Authors: Natalie Schellack (Author), Morné Strydom (Author), Michael S. Pepper (Author), Candice L. Herd (Author), Candice Laverne Hendricks (Author), Elmien Bronkhorst (Author), Johanna C. Meyer (Author), Neelaveni Padayachee (Author), Varsha Bangalee (Author), Ilse Truter (Author), Andrea Antonio Ellero (Author), Thulisa Myaka (Author), Elysha Naidoo (Author), Brian Godman (Author)
Format: Book
Published: MDPI AG, 2022-03-01T00:00:00Z.
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001 doaj_e74326d9d27c4e70b6cf6f6d86cbed0b
042 |a dc 
100 1 0 |a Natalie Schellack  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Morné Strydom  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Michael S. Pepper  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Candice L. Herd  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Candice Laverne Hendricks  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Elmien Bronkhorst  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Johanna C. Meyer  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Neelaveni Padayachee  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Varsha Bangalee  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Ilse Truter  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Andrea Antonio Ellero  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Thulisa Myaka  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Elysha Naidoo  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Brian Godman  |e author 
245 0 0 |a Social Media and COVID-19-Perceptions and Public Deceptions of Ivermectin, Colchicine and Hydroxychloroquine: Lessons for Future Pandemics 
260 |b MDPI AG,   |c 2022-03-01T00:00:00Z. 
500 |a 10.3390/antibiotics11040445 
500 |a 2079-6382 
520 |a The capacity for social media to influence the utilization of re-purposed medicines to manage COVID-19, despite limited availability of safety and efficacy data, is a cause for concern within health care systems. This study sought to ascertain links between social media reports and utilization for three re-purposed medicines: hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), ivermectin and colchicine. A combined retrospective analysis of social media posts for these three re-purposed medicines was undertaken, along with utilization and clinical trials data, in South Africa, between January 2020 and June 2021. In total, 77,257 posts were collected across key social media platforms, of which 6884 were relevant. Ivermectin had the highest number of posts (55%) followed by HCQ (44%). The spike in ivermectin use was closely correlated to social media posts. Similarly, regarding chloroquine (as HCQ is not available in South Africa), social media interest was enhanced by local politicians. Sentiment analysis revealed that posts regarding the effectiveness of these repurposed medicines were positive. This was different for colchicine, which contributed only a small number of mentions (1%). Of concern is that the majority of reporters in social media (85%) were unidentifiable. This study provides evidence of social media as a driver of re-purposed medicines. Healthcare professionals have a key role in providing evidence-based advice especially with unidentifiable posts. 
546 |a EN 
690 |a social media 
690 |a re-purposed medicines 
690 |a hydroxychloroquine 
690 |a ivermectin 
690 |a colchicine 
690 |a South Africa 
690 |a Therapeutics. Pharmacology 
690 |a RM1-950 
655 7 |a article  |2 local 
786 0 |n Antibiotics, Vol 11, Iss 4, p 445 (2022) 
787 0 |n https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/11/4/445 
787 0 |n https://doaj.org/toc/2079-6382 
856 4 1 |u https://doaj.org/article/e74326d9d27c4e70b6cf6f6d86cbed0b  |z Connect to this object online.