Program Information
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: Community and retail pharmacists
Type of Activity: Application
Release Date: July 22, 2026
Expiration Date: September 22, 2026
Time to Complete Activity: 1 hour
Learner Level: Foundational
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.