2023-11-23 21:02:34
Seeking health information on social networks rather than from a doctor or general media leads not only to a low level of medical knowledge but also to refusing or abandoning care, according to a survey published Thursday by the Foundation Descartes. In partnership with the National Academy of Medicine, the Descartes Foundation, specializing in issues related to information and disinformation, surveyed 4,000 French people to establish in figures the link between their sources of information on medical news and their health knowledge as well as behaviors such as vaccine refusal or forgoing conventional medical treatment.
To establish the level of medical knowledge of the respondents, the investigators submitted to them a certain number of assertions, true or false – the first consistent with current medical knowledge, the latter non-compliant and circulating on social networks, such as “drinking wine increases the risk of developing certain cancers” (true) or “consuming frozen lemon helps fight diabetes and certain tumors” (false).
The survey conducted by Laurent Cordonier, sociologist and research director of the Descartes Foundation, shows that respondents who favor social networks, but also YouTube or messaging groups like WhatsApp to find out about these subjects, have a level medical knowledge lower than the others. A sensitivity to conspiracy beliefs or an interest in alternative therapies are also factors associated with less knowledge, the researchers observed.
Priority topics for Miviludes
Beyond their health knowledge, the way they obtain information also has an influence on the health behavior of respondents, according to this survey. For example, those who “often” to “very often” obtain information on health topics via YouTube are 2.9 times more likely than others to have already given up medical treatment in favor of an alternative therapy. Twice as many people who obtain information primarily through TikTok refuse a vaccine for themselves or their child (excluding the Covid vaccine) as those who choose another means of information.
Health and well-being have become priority subjects for Miviludes, a government organization which tracks sectarian abuses. Since the entry into force at the end of August of the new European Union legislation on digital services (DSA), platforms are required to monitor the potential danger of their content in terms of health in particular.
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