Social networks, a suitable platform for public participation and health education in the Covid-19 epidemic: Performance of Tehran University of Medical Sciences deputy of Health

Increase the level of health literacy about communicable and non-communicable diseases using virtual platforms during the Covid-19 epidemic is important. The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of the deputy of Health of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in using virtual platforms in health education of the covered population during the Covid-19 epidemic.

In this cross-sectional study, recorded data related to educational activities in cyberspace during the months of September to the end of January was used. The variables studied included the number of virtual groups, the number of members participating in the groups, the number of uploaded messages, the sources of content uploaded, and the group manager in different months.

During the under-studied period, about 660 related groups to family health ambassadors, 183 groups of health liaisons, 519 virtual self-help groups, 120 groups related to employees of external organizations, and 132 Virtual groups were created for students and their teachers. The highest number of uploaded messages in all groups was from the deputy of Health, and the group of liaisons and health ambassadors with an average of 0.76 with 0.72 messages per day had the highest average of sending messages per day.

Since the beginning of infrastructural and educational activities in cyberspace, effective measures have been taken by the deputy of the Health of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, which can minimize the negative impact of the Covid-19 epidemic on educational, health, and prevention-related activities.