The impact of health literacy of Iranian users on the accuracy of information on COVID-19 in virtual social networks

Authors

  • Shahnaz Khademizadeh Universidad Shahid Chamran, Ahvaz. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4494-7709
  • Zeinab Mohammadi Universidad Shahid Chamran, Ahvaz.
  • Farhad Fatehi Investigador en el Centro de Investigación de Servicios de Salud. Universidad de Queensland.

Keywords:

health literacy, virtual social network, Iranian users, accuracy of disseminated information.

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to investigate the impact of health literacy of Iranian users on the accuracy of information on COVID-19 in virtual social networks. This is applied descriptive survey. The population includes all Iranian users of virtual networks (Telegram, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram and etc.). In this study, 121 questionnaires were confirmed and studied. For descriptive statistics, SPSS (ver. 32) and for testing hypothesis, Lisrel have been used. The research findings show that according to Iranian users, Internet is the main source for obtaining information on COVID-19. Moreover, the most popular virtual network is WhatsApp. The aim of using virtual social networks is to access to news and information.  The results of structural equations show that there is positive meaningful relation between the rate of health literacy and the accuracy of information on COVID-19 (p > 0.000, β = 0.561). In addition, the health literacy can explain 40 percent variance of the accuracy of information on COVID-19 in virtual social networks. Moreover, the results show that there is meaningful difference between the educational level of Iranian users and the health literacy and accuracy of information on COVID-19 in virtual social networks. Concerning the results of this study and meaningful relation between the health literacy level and attention to accuracy of the information on COVID-19 in Iranian users, the authorities of health system are recommended to consider special planning and policies to increase the health literacy level of users in social networks. In this way, users will be able to verify the accuracy of information on COVID-19 by increasing their health literacy level and therefore, there would be less losses due to unawareness of health literacy and its adverse effect.

 

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Author Biographies

Shahnaz Khademizadeh, Universidad Shahid Chamran, Ahvaz.

Profesor asociado en Ciencias del Conocimiento y de la Información, Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación y Psicología. Universidad Shahid Chamran de Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Irán.

Zeinab Mohammadi, Universidad Shahid Chamran, Ahvaz.

Dr. académico en Conocimiento y Ciencias de la Información, Universidad Shahid Chamran, Ahvaz.

Farhad Fatehi, Investigador en el Centro de Investigación de Servicios de Salud. Universidad de Queensland.

Universidad de Queensland.

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Published

2022-05-16

How to Cite

1.
Khademizadeh S, Mohammadi Z, Fatehi F. The impact of health literacy of Iranian users on the accuracy of information on COVID-19 in virtual social networks. Rev. cuba. inf. cienc. salud [Internet]. 2022 May 16 [cited 2025 May 12];33. Available from: https://acimed.sld.cu/index.php/acimed/article/view/1853

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