Abstracts for Articles
1 Qualitative Article
Anwar, A., Malik, M., Raees, V., & Anwar, A. (2020). Role of mass media and public health communications in the COVID-19 pandemic.Cureus,12(9).
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in late 2019 and its subsequent spread across the globe has led to an unprecedented public health crisis. In this context, mass media, including traditional and social media, played a critical role in disseminating information about the virus, its transmission, prevention, and treatment. However, the media coverage of COVID-19 was not without its challenges, as it also contributed to the spread of misinformation, rumors, and fear.
This qualitative study aims to explore and discuss the role of mass media in public health communication during the pandemic. Specifically, it identifies social, cultural, and economic issues arising from media coverage and their impact on the public's response to the pandemic.
The study highlights the media's contradictory role in promoting both scientifically unproven cures and essential public health guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus. It also identifies how the media's coverage induced fear and stress in the population, contributing to mental health issues. On the one hand, social media was used to spread one set of ideas about the pandemic, and mainstream media was used to spread another set of ideas about the pandemic. This study shows that the differences between legacy media and new media are important, particularly from a public health perspective. The study shows, for instance, that social media platforms provide a platform for users to express their...
However, it is argued that the information shared on social media is not always accurate or reliable, and it may be challenging to distinguish between trustworthy and untrustworthy sources of information. Legacy media, including traditional news outlets such as
television,
radio, and newspapers, continue to
play a critical role in shaping public opinion about...
…and public health messaging should emphasize shared responsibility and public consciousness to improve social distancing behaviors during the pandemic. This is particularly important in the context of intentional non-adherence, where public health officials may need to address not only the lack of knowledge or awareness of social distancing rules but also the intentional violation of these rules that result from aspects of
individualism as well as
rebellion against state-mandates regarding public health and safety procedures and policies.
In conclusion, this quantitative study provides insights into the factors associated with non-adherence to social distancing rules during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in North London. The study findings emphasize the importance of considering individual beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions when designing public health messaging and interventions to improve social distancing behaviors during the pandemic. The study also highlights the need to address intentional non-adherence and support individuals living in high-risk environments to promote public health and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
