Helial Alomiry’s research while affiliated with Umm al-Qura University and other places

Background The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic in March 2020, only two months after its discovery in Wuhan. This pervasiveness and the epidemic's detrimental effects have seen verified and unverified information avalanche which attempted to help prevent, control and define the disease. Objectives The study focused on three objectives. First, it determines how consumption of information relating to coronavirus occurred, focusing on the type and nature of the information utilized and its rationale. Second, it examines the impact of information consumption on preventive practices. Third, it evaluates the effect of gender and age on the consumption of information relating to coronavirus. Methods The study adopted a cross-sectional online survey based on quantitative methods. The study included 400 participants from various regions of the world. The data were then subjected to analysis using SPSS. Results The research analysis has been shaped by Pearson’s Correlation, Coefficient, Percentage, and Frequency which have been used to derive the information consumption rate during the pandemic. Conclusion Information consumption was influenced by variables such as age and gender. The participants below the age of 40 years used social media as the source of information. Participants above the age of 40 years favored legacy media like print and television. The study also evaluated the use of the information and found that most people sought the information to come up with preventive measures to protect them against the disease.

The current narrative review aimed to evaluate the effects and role of social media in covid-19 pandemic. The examinations show that web-based media has been utilized to share perspectives, medical care, and social distancing during the Covid-19 emergency. However, social media networks have also been used in spreading bogus information to the general public during the Covid-19 pandemic. Along these lines, utilizing web-based media can be an important method for experts and governments to forestall the spread of this virus and even incomparable future emergence. The paper has contributed in many aspects like offering opportunity and remediation on the negative effects of social media during covid-19 such as the spread of misinformation to the general public. In addition, enhancement of public health practitioners’ reliance on social media as a tool for appropriate information dissemination as well as assists media personnel in understanding the gravity of the situation and the barriers to effective communication of public health messages.