JMIR Preprints Bastani et al

COVID-19 Related Misinformation on Social Media: A

Qualitative Study from Iran

Peivand Bastani, Mohammad Amin Bahrami

Submitted to: Journal of Medical Internet Research

on: March 27, 2020

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https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18932 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Bastani et al

Table of Contents

Supplementary Files....................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Other materials for editor/reviewers onlies ......................................................................................................................................... 5
Other materials for editor/reviewers only 0 ........................................................................................................................................... 5

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18932 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Bastani et al

COVID-19 Related Misinformation on Social Media: A Qualitative Study

from Iran

Peivand BastaniPhD, ; Mohammad Amin BahramiPhD,

Corresponding Author:
Mohammad Amin BahramiPhD,
Phone: +989132565057
Fax: 98 7132340724
Email: aminbahrami1359@gmail.com

Abstract

Background: During outbreaks of diseases a great amount of health threatening misinformation is produced and released. In the
web-2 era much of this misinformation is disseminated via social media where information could spread easily and quickly.
Monitoring social media content provides crucial insights for health managers to manage the crisis.
Objective: Given the misinformation surrounding COVID-19 outbreak, this study was aimed to analyze contents of the most
commonly used social networks in Iran that is among the affected countries.
Methods: A social media monitoring conducted through a qualitative design to analyze the discussions of social media users
about the content related to COVID-19 transferred via Iranian medical faculty members` groups in Telegram and Whats App
during Feb 20 to March 20, 2020 emphasizing the misinformation. Discourse analysis was applied and the written dialogues and
discussions regarding misinformation about different aspects of the outbreak between medical faculty members all over the
country were analyzed.
Results: Cultural factors, demand pressure for information during the crisis, the easiness of information dissemination via social
networks, marketing incentives and the poor legal supervision of online contents are the main reasons of misinformation
dissemination. Disease statistics; treatments, vaccines and medicines; prevention and protection methods; dietary
recommendations and disease transmission ways are the main subjective categories of releasing misinformation regarding novel
coronavirus outbreak. Consequences of misinformation dissemination regarding disease include psychosocial; economic; health
status; health system and ethical ones. Active and effective presence of health professionals and authorities on social media
during the crisis and the improvement of public health literacy in the long term are the most recommended strategies for dealing
with issues related to misinformation.
Conclusions: This study contributes the management of COVID-19 outbreak trough providing applicable insights for health
managers to manage public information in this challenging time. Clinical Trial: Not applicable
(JMIR Preprints 27/03/2020:18932)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/preprints.18932

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https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18932 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Bastani et al

Supplementary Files

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18932 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

 JMIR Preprints Bastani et al

Other materials for editor/reviewers onlies

the revised version (revisions highlighted).

URL: https://asset.jmir.pub/assets/c28074a130477f7bef5d2c92acb8d1f5.doc

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18932 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

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