On social media, many pages promote health information and miracle remedies that tempt followers.
In light of this, doctors can no longer stand on the sidelines. People's health has become material that some influencers manipulate without scientific facts, spreading misinformation that can cause real harm.
اضافة اعلان
In this crowded digital environment of health noise, the doctor's role goes beyond diagnosis and prescribing treatment. It becomes that of a guide, a fact-checker and a protector.
The new reality: influencer authority sometimes outweighs the doctor's
Today, health influencers use persuasion skilfully. They combine traditions inherited from folk medicine with the latest trends in nutrition and slimming to offer quick fixes for chronic and complex problems, all without a prescription or a doctor.
The danger lies in the fact that these influencers lack medical qualifications, and do not warn about the interactions of herbs, the complications of extreme diets or the risks of stopping medical treatment.
What should doctors say now?
According to the health website OnlyMyHealth, here is what doctors should do in the face of unqualified influencers:
Use the same platforms
If the public spends hours on Instagram, YouTube and WhatsApp, doctors need to be present there too.
Short videos, simple awareness graphics and a direct style that avoids complicated medical jargon are all effective ways to reach people. It is not enough to be an excellent doctor; you must also be a smart communicator.
Respect tradition and correct it
In some cultures, traditional medicine is part of identity. Denying its value entirely may push people away rather than persuade them.
The solution for doctors is to acknowledge the parts supported by evidence and rebut what is unproven, in language of respect rather than superiority. Explanation matters more than rebuke, and guidance is better than mockery.
Teach people how to tell the difference
Rather than debating every rumour or trending diet, doctors can teach people to ask the right questions:
Is this advice backed by scientific studies?
Who is giving it, and are they qualified?
What is the risk if it turns out to be wrong?
This kind of education aims to provide digital health literacy, an important weapon against superstition, just as treatment is a weapon against disease.
A collective voice is stronger
No single doctor can change the picture alone. But through the cooperation of medical associations, hospitals, the media and even responsible influencers, a trusted collective voice can be created to counter the impact of misleading content.
Awareness campaigns, information verification projects and the regulation of digital health platforms are all essential steps.
In today's digital age, the doctor is no longer just a person in a clinic, however distinguished. Their voice matters on social media, they are a trusted source in a sea of content, and they play a key role in preventing health misinformation.
