Pharmacists and pandemic misinformation.

Abstract

Pharmacists have always had a responsibility to communicate evidence-based, accurate health-related information to patients and the public; traditionally, this is related to medicines in particular but increasingly this has broadened into many other areas such as public health advice and no more so than in the recent COVID pandemic. What the pandemic has highlighted in particular, however, have been concerns about the increasing influence of false beliefs and misinformation, particularly on the internet and social media.[1] Misinformation had been defined narrowly as the reporting of false information where there is no intention to harm others[2] but is also understood in terms of a different mechanism through which it is manifest such as rumours, urban myths, government, fiction and vested interests.[3] It represents a key public health and societal concern due to the effect that it can have, with an impact on the public (in terms of reduced vaccination uptake) but also contributing to health professionals’ incorrect beliefs.[4]