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The Impact of the COVID-19 "Infodemic" on Drug-Utilization Behaviors: Implications for Pharmacovigilance.
Tuccori, Marco; Convertino, Irma; Ferraro, Sara; Cappello, Emiliano; Valdiserra, Giulia; Focosi, Daniele; Blandizzi, Corrado.
  • Tuccori M; Unit of Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring, University Hospital of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126, Pisa, Italy. marco.tuccori@gmail.com.
  • Convertino I; Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. marco.tuccori@gmail.com.
  • Ferraro S; Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
  • Cappello E; Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
  • Valdiserra G; Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
  • Focosi D; Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
  • Blandizzi C; North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
Drug Saf ; 43(8): 699-709, 2020 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1482336
ABSTRACT
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that hit the world in 2020 triggered a massive dissemination of information (an "infodemic") about the disease that was channeled through the print, broadcast, web, and social media. This infodemic also included sensational and distorted information about drugs that likely first influenced opinion leaders and people particularly active on social media and then other people, thus affecting choices by individual patients everywhere. In particular, information has spread about some drugs approved for other indications (chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, favipiravir, and umifenovir) that could have led to inappropriate and therefore hazardous use. In this article, we analyze the rationale behind the claims for use of these drugs in COVID-19, the communication about their effects on the disease, the consequences of this communication on people's behavior, and the responses of some influential regulatory authorities in an attempt to minimize the actual or potential risks arising from this behavior. Finally, we discuss the role of pharmacovigilance stakeholders in emergency management and possible strategies to deal with other similar crises in the future.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / Public Health / Coronavirus Infections / Information Dissemination / Drug Utilization / Pandemics Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Drug Saf Journal subject: Drug Therapy / Toxicology Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S40264-020-00965-w

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / Public Health / Coronavirus Infections / Information Dissemination / Drug Utilization / Pandemics Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Drug Saf Journal subject: Drug Therapy / Toxicology Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S40264-020-00965-w