Covid Media Misguidance: A Case Report Highlighting the Influence of Media on Patient Medication Decision Making

Abstract

Purpose: This case report details the influence of media on patients and the responsibility of health care providers to educate their patients on proper use of medications, and to be aware of potential misadventures based on messages in popular media. Summary: The sudden rise of the COVID19 pandemic has led to media outlets reporting science without necessary peer review and has resulted in preliminary data presented as factual evidence. It is difficult for patients without an extensive medical background in science to fully understand the uncertainty of information shared in popular media. This was demonstrated when preliminary data showed potential promise of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment/prevention of COVID19. This led to patients requesting hydroxychloroquine prescriptions from their providers, as well as stockpiling medication, which led to a shortage. In addition, patients began taking chloroquine containing substances not intended for human consumption. Popular media created a belief in the general public that all antimalarial drugs may work to prevent COVID19. This case report presents an elderly patient that presented to clinic with shortness of breath and lightheadedness. Upon interviewing the patient, it was discovered that he had been taking an old supply of atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride. Physical exam, and laboratory examination were evaluated to rule out any other etiology with all tests and exams being unremarkable. Two weeks after stopping atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride, the patient’s symptoms completely resolved. Conclusion: The media provides a significant portion of the information that patients receive regarding rapidly changing treatment information in a pandemic. It is crucial for health care providers to know what information patients are exposed to, and to educate patients with evidence-based information. Pharmacists are the most accessible health care providers and have a key role in medication review and management. Educating patients on evidence-based use of medications may help avoid harm caused by misinformation from unreliable media sources.

Journalistic Denial of Death during the Very First Traumatic Period of the Italian COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The international literature has extensively highlighted the problem of the infodemic in managing information related to COVID-19 since the very first months of the pandemic. Studies on the ways in which the media have handled the COVID-19 pandemic have already accounted for some important aspects, including the biases that characterise mass information [45] (AlAfnan, 2020), among which stigma and incitement to hatred emerge in importance [46] (Robie, Krishnamurthi, 2020), but have also underlined the ability to give scientifically correct information [47] (Anderson et al, 2021). They then considered effects from the resulting increase in perceived risk of contagion as well, including depression [48] (Olagoke et al, 2020), worry and fear [49,50] (Garfin et al, 2020; Manzoor & Safdar, 2020).…”

Science's Response to CoVID‐19

“…Indeed, swathes of scientific data were released through open‐access journals and even group websites that rapidly became news headlines. Of course, such trying times are, in fact, when peer reviewing, correct use of trial design/statistics/planning [353] and our faith in the scientific process and the drug approval pipeline should be highest. These lessons should be learned by scientists, and indeed also politicians and journalists alike [354] .…”