Allied Health Care Professional Susceptibility to Health Misinformation on Social Media: A Systematic Review

Health misinformation on social media platforms is increasingly prevalent and spreads faster than truthful content. Belief in health misinformation, especially by allied health care professionals, carries detrimental risks to patient care. The purpose of this study was to examine the current state of evidence on pediatric allied health care professionals' susceptibility to health misinformation on social media. Four research databases were searched and PRISMA guidelines were followed to identify and screen articles for inclusion in this evidence-based systematic review. Quality appraisal using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and the Center for Evidence-Based Medicine quality appraisal tool was conducted to determine final inclusion for review. Three articles met inclusion criteria for further analysis. Overall, susceptibility to health misinformation is multifaceted and there are many psychological, behavioral, and demographic factors that impact susceptibility to misinformation. Information source and trust, group identity, preexisting beliefs, and emotions surrounding the topic play a major role in susceptibility to misinformation. This study highlights factors that are known to influence susceptibility to health misinformation. Susceptibility to health misinformation can influence allied health professionals' adoption of beliefs and practices that do not otherwise align with research-based methods. However, no research to date has analyzed susceptibility of health misinformation specifically with allied health care professionals and additional research is warranted.