Program Description
Social media has rapidly emerged as a dominant source of health information,
shaping how patients perceive medications, health care professionals, and
treatment decisions. Algorithm-driven platforms often prioritize engagement
over accuracy, amplifying anecdotal experiences, simplified messaging, and influencer-driven
narratives that contribute to medication consumerism, in which patients request
specific therapies, pursue off-label treatments, or question clinical
recommendations based on online content. These trends have meaningful clinical
and public health implications, including inappropriate medication use, reduced
adherence, erosion of trust in providers, and increased risk of adverse
outcomes. Despite these challenges, pharmacists are uniquely positioned to
address misinformation at the point of care, though doing so requires an
understanding of the psychological drivers of social media engagement,
including confirmation bias and perceived authority, as well as the ability to
navigate conversations without dismissing patient concerns. This session will
examine how social media influences patient perceptions of medications and
health care, evaluate the clinical consequences of medication consumerism
through real-world examples, and provide practical, evidence-based
communication strategies, including motivational interviewing and
patient-centered counseling, to support informed decision-making. Through
case-based application, participants will develop actionable approaches to
identify misinformation, guide evidence-based medication use, and reinforce
trust in an increasingly digital health landscape.
Target audience: Retail Pharmacist, Community Pharmacist
Type of activity: Application
Release date: August 4, 2026
Expiration date: August 4, 2027
Learner level: Foundational
Time to complete activity: 1.0 hour
Fee: Free
Educational Objectives
At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Analyze factors on social media that shape patient perceptions of medications, health care professionals, and treatment decisions.
- Evaluate the clinical and public health implications of medication consumerism driven by social media content.
- Apply counseling and communication approaches to address misinformation and guide evidence-based medication use.
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