Social Media and COVID-19—Perceptions and Public Deceptions of Ivermectin, Colchicine and Hydroxychloroquine: Lessons for Future Pandemics
Natalie Schellack,
Morné Strydom,
Michael S. Pepper,
Candice L. Herd,
Candice Laverne Hendricks,
Elmien Bronkhorst,
Johanna C. Meyer,
Neelaveni Padayachee,
Varsha Bangalee,
Ilse Truter,
Andrea Antonio Ellero,
Thulisa Myaka,
Elysha Naidoo,
Brian Godman
Affiliations
Natalie Schellack
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0084, South Africa
Morné Strydom
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0084, South Africa
Michael S. Pepper
Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Immunology and SAMRC Extramural Unit for Stem Cell Research and Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0084, South Africa
Candice L. Herd
Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Immunology and SAMRC Extramural Unit for Stem Cell Research and Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0084, South Africa
Candice Laverne Hendricks
Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Immunology and SAMRC Extramural Unit for Stem Cell Research and Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0084, South Africa
Elmien Bronkhorst
School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0084, South Africa
Johanna C. Meyer
School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0084, South Africa
Neelaveni Padayachee
Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Therapeutic Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
Varsha Bangalee
Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa
Ilse Truter
Drug Utilization Research Unit (DURU), Department of Pharmacy, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa
Andrea Antonio Ellero
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0084, South Africa
Thulisa Myaka
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0084, South Africa
Elysha Naidoo
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0084, South Africa
Brian Godman
School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0084, South Africa
The capacity for social media to influence the utilization of re-purposed medicines to manage COVID-19, despite limited availability of safety and efficacy data, is a cause for concern within health care systems. This study sought to ascertain links between social media reports and utilization for three re-purposed medicines: hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), ivermectin and colchicine. A combined retrospective analysis of social media posts for these three re-purposed medicines was undertaken, along with utilization and clinical trials data, in South Africa, between January 2020 and June 2021. In total, 77,257 posts were collected across key social media platforms, of which 6884 were relevant. Ivermectin had the highest number of posts (55%) followed by HCQ (44%). The spike in ivermectin use was closely correlated to social media posts. Similarly, regarding chloroquine (as HCQ is not available in South Africa), social media interest was enhanced by local politicians. Sentiment analysis revealed that posts regarding the effectiveness of these repurposed medicines were positive. This was different for colchicine, which contributed only a small number of mentions (1%). Of concern is that the majority of reporters in social media (85%) were unidentifiable. This study provides evidence of social media as a driver of re-purposed medicines. Healthcare professionals have a key role in providing evidence-based advice especially with unidentifiable posts.
