- 11/10/2017
- Category: Commentaries
Have you ever received any information containing recipes of natural ingredients[i] or any suggestion about alternative health therapies[ii] claimed for its ability to cure any kind of disease?
We may receive various information like the one mentioned in the beginning of this writing through messaging services (WhatsApp, Line, etc.), social networks (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), e-mail, personal blogs, online news, YouTube videos, and other means. Health issues always become interesting subjects to be discussed and we are flooded by this kind of information in today’s digital age. We wake up with a stomach-ache, we Google it. We find an uncommon acne on our face, we ask Siri to Google it. We even ask Google to diagnose multiple symptoms. In every single click and tap, Google can anecdotally be a doctor to solve our health problems.
Technological explosion, as indicated by the increased role of media literacy in influencing health behaviours[iii] and the role of increased access to computers[iv], has significantly advanced health literacy within our society. Health literacy is defined as how people obtain, understand, use, and communicate about health-related information.[v] Health information may be transmitted either in an auditory or written mode. Meanwhile, educational materials about disease management, medications, instructions for caregivers, as well as appointments may be presented in native languages with some illustrations.[vi] Those who search the internet for information about illness and health are mainly youths, females, and the educated ones.[vii] For some ideal objectives, a digital health literacy can help improving prevention and adherence to a healthy lifestyle, improving the use of pharmaceutical products, enhancing the safe and proper use medicines, strengthening the patient involvement and empowerment, and finally improving health outcomes.[viii]
A digital health literacy without proper advisor can also bring negative impacts on society’s behaviour. Many use health information provided by the internet unwisely, and start experimenting self-medication as alternative ways of healing with a relatively lower budget. Self-medication refers to the use of medicines by an individual to treat symptoms and conditions without doctor consultation.[ix] The practice of self-medication is inevitable from medical disinformation. In Indonesia, medical disinformation is seen with the emergence of alternative or traditional health medications and clinics – without certifications of health expertise – and published massively through digital media. Moreover, the practice of medical disinformation in Indonesia has provoked public mistrusts on the national health program on vaccination, the pharmaceutical companies as drug manufactures, as well as the reliability of medical practitioners in the country.
The anti-vaccine movements in Indonesia occurred in 2016 when the police uncovered a fake-vaccine syndicate distributing hundreds of fake serums in clinics, hospitals, and drug stores. The case shocked many parents, resulting in many of them reconsidering giving their children immunization shots. The anti-vaxxers have more ammunition to convince public against vaccination. Some anti-vaccine celebrities have used religion to support their views, by diffusing information that immunization serums contain pork, which is prohibited in Islam. Despite little proof, many beliefs this claim. As for assurance to the vaccines’ quality, the Indonesian government has ordered overhaul of the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM). Also, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has given its stamp of approval for local vaccine products, declaring them halal and safe.[x]
Modern society is facing a real challenge of fostering healthy behaviour amidst issues surrounding digital health literacy, especially in Indonesia. It’s undeniable that having a brief information about our symptoms before passing through credible medical treatment is really tempting. Nevertheless, in accessing online health information, we need to be able to navigate the vast amount of information, to interpret and synthesize health information across multiple sources (i.e. websites) while also evaluating the credibility of these sources.[xi] Improving digital literacy across the health care also needs to be embedded in organizations and individuals.[xii] To cope with fake health medication practices, for example, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia intensively conducts health education programs, such as “Gerakan Masyarakat Hidup Sehat” and “Program Keluarga Sehat”; and publicly shares health information through their Twitter, @KemenkesRI. We are also welcomed to call “1500567” or “Halo Kemenkes” to denounce improper medical treatments and clinics, or to direct any other complaints related to any health issues
Picture: Pixabay.com
[i] Publik Jurnalistik. ‘Fakta atau Hoax: Heboh (Lagi) Resep Herbal Prof. Vikineswary.’ Available at: http://publikjurnalistik.org/fakta-atau-hoax-heboh-lagi-resep-herbal-prof-vikineswary/. Accessed: 9 September 2017.
[ii] Indonesian Hoax. ‘Pengobatan Alternatif yang perlu dikritisi – Pengobatan Gaib.’ Available at: http://indonesianhoax.blogspot.co.id/2013/02/pengobatan-alternatif-yang-perlu-dikritisi-pengobatan-gaib.html. Accessed: 9 September 2017.
[iii] LJ, Bergsma, Carney ME. (2009). ‘Effectiveness of health-promoting media literacy education: A systematic review.’ Health Education Research. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18203680. Accessed: 15 August 2017.
[iv] P, Salovey, Williams-Piehota P, Mowad L, Moret ME, Edlund D, Andersen J. (2009). ‘Bridging the digital divide by increasing computer and cancer literacy: Computer technology centers for Head-Start parents and families.’ Journal of Health Communication. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19440907. Accessed: 16 August 2017.
[v] Heath, Sara. ‘How Digital, Health Literacy Drives mHealth Patient Engagement’. Available at: https://patientengagementhit.com/news/how-digital-health-literacy-drives-mhealth-patient-engagement. Accessed: 17 August 2017.
[vi] Leescher, David. (2012). ‘Can Digital Health Technologies Improve Health Literacy?’ Available at: https://davidleescher.com/2012/03/27/can-digital-health-technologies-improve-health-literacy/ Accessed: 17 August 2017.
[vii] Riel, Noor Van, Koen Auwerx, Pieterjan Debbaut, Sanne Van Hees, Birgitte Schoenmakers. (2017). ‘The Effect of Dr. Google on doctor-patient encounters in primary care: a quantitative, observational, cross-sectional study.’ Available at: http://bjgpopen.org/content/bjgpoa/early/2017/05/12/bjgpopen17X100833.full.pdf. Accessed: 22 August 2017.
[viii] Haptic. (2016). Available at: http://www.haptic.ro/digital-health-literacy/. Accessed: 30 August 2017.
[ix] ANAND Diagnostic Laboratory. (2016). ‘Dangers of Self Medicating without Doctor Consultation.’ Available at: http://www.anandlab.com/blog/dangers-of-self-medicating-without-doctor-consultation/ Accessed: 30 August 2017.
[x] Krismantari, Ika. ‘Ending anti-vaccine arguments for the sake of our young.’ Available at: https://www.pressreader.com/indonesia/the-jakarta-post/20170706/281535111016846. Accessed: 9 September 2017.
[xi] Mein, Erika, Brenda Fuentes, Francisco Soto Más, and Andrés Muro. (2012). ‘Incorporating digital health literacy into adult ESL education on the US-Mexico border.’ Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3666030/. Accessed: 31 August 2017.
[xii] NHS Education England. ‘Improving Digital Literacy’. Available at: https://www.rcn.org.uk/-/…/improving-digital-literacy.pdf? Accessed: 31 August 2017.
