The Relationship Between Health Misinformation Exposure and Adherence to Disease Prevention Programs: A Cross-Sectional Study in Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69855/mgj.v3i2.607Keywords:
Health Misinformatio, Health Compliance, Disease Prevention, Digital Health Literacy, Health BehaviorAbstract
The rapid growth of digital technology has expanded access to health information but has also increased exposure to health misinformation, which may affect health-related behaviors. This study aimed to examine the relationship between exposure to health misinformation and adherence to disease prevention programs among adults in Palembang City, South Sumatra, Indonesia. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed involving 120 respondents aged 18 years and above who actively accessed health information through digital media. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected using a validated Likert-scale questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and linear regression. The findings showed that exposure to health misinformation was moderately high (mean = 3.62), while adherence to disease prevention programs was at a moderate level (mean = 3.45). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between misinformation exposure and adherence (r = −0.462; p < 0.05). Linear regression analysis indicated that misinformation exposure significantly predicted adherence behavior (B = −0.385; p < 0.001), explaining 21.3% of the variance. The results suggest that health misinformation is an important factor influencing adherence to disease prevention programs. Enhancing digital health literacy, strengthening evidence-based health communication, and increasing public trust in health institutions are essential strategies to improve compliance with disease prevention measures and reduce the negative impact of misinformation.
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