SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE SPREAD OF HEALTH INFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

This article sought to analyze how social media influence the spread of health information and disinformation and the implications of this phenomenon for Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) and for nursing practice. This is an integrative literature review, with searches in the PubMed and SciELO databases covering the period from 2021 to 2026, guided by DeCS/MeSH descriptors and predefined eligibility criteria, which resulted in the inclusion of 24 studies. The findings were organized into three categories: media literacy and health behavior; disinformation, vaccine hesitancy and harmful substances; and scientific communication and digital health technologies. The studies indicate that the central problem does not lie in the digital medium itself, but in the dynamics of the platforms that, by prioritizing engagement, amplify the circulation of disinformation and reduce the visibility of quality information. It is concluded that nurses occupy a strategic position as curators of health information, with digital literacy and health communication being relevant competencies for patient safety and for EBP.