The impact of the COVID-19 “Infodemic” on drug-utilization behaviors: implications for Pharmacovigilance
Open accessAbstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that hit the world in 2020 triggered a massive dissemination of information (an "infodemic") about the disease that was channeled through the print, broadcast, web, and social media. This infodemic also included sensational and distorted information about drugs that likely first influenced opinion leaders and people particularly active on social media and then other people, thus affecting choices by individual patients everywhere. In particular, information has spread about some drugs approved for other indications (chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, favipiravir, and umifenovir) that could have led to inappropriate and therefore hazardous use. In this article, we analyze the rationale behind the claims for use of these drugs in COVID-19, the communication about their effects on the disease, the consequences of this communication on people's behavior, and the responses of some influential regulatory authorities in an attempt to minimize the actual or potential risks arising from this behavior. Finally, we discuss the role of pharmacovigilance stakeholders in emergency management and possible strategies to deal with other similar crises in the future.
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The consequence of infodemic on the scientific framework is considerable, with implications on possible healthcare choices, already a determining factor in the recent pandemic.
“The consequence on the scientific framework is considerable, even with implications on possible healthcare choices, already a determining factor in the recent pandemic. (58)”
From ChatGPT and the rise of large language models: the new AI-driven infodemic threat in public health (2023) · cites this paper as [58]
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ChatGPT and the rise of large language models: the new AI-driven infodemic threat in public health
De Angelis, L., Baglivo, F., Arzilli, G., Privitera, G. P., Ferragina, P., Tozzi, A. E., & Rizzo, C. (2023) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1166120 · Cited by 708 · see citing works
ChatGPT and the Rise of Large Language Models: The New AI-Driven Infodemic Threat in Public Health
De Angelis, L., Baglivo, F., Arzilli, G., Privitera, G. P., Ferragina, P., Tozzi, A. E., & Rizzo, C. (2023) · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4352931 · Cited by 708 · see citing works
- Authors
- Tuccori, M., Convertino, I., Ferraro, S., Cappello, E., Valdiserra, G., Focosi, D., & Blandizzi, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Pisa (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Tuccori, Marco
- ORCID
- Venue
- Drug Safety
- Published
- 2020-06-22
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 699-709
- ISSN
- 0114-5916 (ISSN-L)
- 1179-1942
- PMC
- PMC7307939
- OpenAlex
- W3036835209
- Cited by
- 80
- References
- 56
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 4
- FWCI
- 21.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Drug Safety (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- CINECA IRIS Institutial research information system (University of Pisa) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Misinformation and Its Impacts
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug Reactions
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Pharmaceutical industry and healthcare
- Keywords
- COVID-19 pandemic, infodemic, pharmacovigilance, off-label drug use, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, favipiravir, umifenovir, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, misinformation, social media, regulatory response, emergency management, crisis communication
- MeSH terms
- Betacoronavirus, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 Drug Treatment, Attitude to Health, Drug Utilization, Humans, Pneumonia, Viral, Public Health, Social Medicine, Coronavirus Infections, Information Dissemination, Medication Therapy Management, Pandemics, Pharmacovigilance, Social Media
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