Using Social Media Platforms to Raise Health Awareness and Increase Health Education in Pakistan: Structural Equation...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Communication
• Digital Health

Background:

• Traditional health education methods in Pakistan lack reach and engagement.
• Social media is underutilized for disease awareness and education in Pakistan.
• Research into social media's impact can enhance health education efforts and reduce disease burden.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate healthcare professionals' perceptions of social media for disease awareness and education in Pakistan.
• To assess social media's potential role in reducing the disease burden.
• To understand the attitudes of healthcare professionals and paramedic staff towards social media in healthcare.

Main Methods:

• Two-stage structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed.
• Data collected via questionnaires from 340 healthcare professionals and paramedics in Lahore, Pakistan.
• Validated scales for social media usefulness, health awareness, and healthcare education were used.

Main Results:

• Social media usefulness positively and significantly impacts health awareness (β=.669, P<.001).
• Health awareness positively and significantly impacts healthcare education (β=.557, P<.001).
• Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and structural model fitness were confirmed.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare professionals and paramedics support social media for health education and awareness.
• Social media is viewed as an effective tool for reducing Pakistan's disease burden.
• Younger professionals favor social media use and call for supportive legislation and monitoring.