Knowledge of Social Media Users about COVID-19 and its Challenges: A Mixed Methods Study

Background: In confronting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), informing the public through social media is one of most important strategies. Objectives: The present study aimed to assess knowledge level users about COVID-19 and its challenges in Iran. Methods: This mixed-methods was conducted 2020. quantitative phase, 299 assessed Khorramabad, Iran, using a questionnaire. Data were analyzed SPSS software version 23. mean score measured utilizing t-test analysis variance. qualitative data collection completed semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling used, ten faculty members experts interviewed. content method used analyze MAXQDA10 software. Results: We observed that 73.73 out 100. Knowledge had significant relationship with educational level, field, profession. Challenges raising included five themes: nature disease, related users, stewardship challenges, media, problems domestic messengers. Conclusions: Proper active management along decisive effective presence health system authorities can make this platform source for during outbreaks communicable diseases.