Pharmacy Daily | Dispensary Corner 26 Jul 24

IF EVER pharmacists had a mortal enemy or nemesis, it would have to be social media.

A new Frontiers in Medicine study from the University of Florida analysed 5,842 responses to a Health Information National Trends Survey and found, thankfully, that doctors and pharmacists are more trusted than health and government officials when it comes to medical advice.

The poll asked respondents how much they trust different types of medical experts and how health recommendations seem to change over time.

Results also found an inherent uncertainty in evolving health recommendations, conspiracy theories and misinformation spread on social media.

For example, the pandemic saw health experts receive huge volumes of death threats due to viral misinformation.

This was powered by hesitancy towards vaccines, which in turn was leading to easily preventable diseases returning.

The survey found 95% of respondents highly trusted and respected their doctor, while scientists held 80% of trust and 70% for government agencies.

These official departments were judged to be undermining both the scientific process and the public's trust in their doctor, causing high levels of confusion.

Prof Arch Mainous at the University of Florida said the scientific process and conflicting "expert" reports confused the public, but a pharmacist or doctor's advice was sound.