Analyzing the role of social media in addressing public health development in india through a multi-criteria decision-making approach

Nowadays, social media plays a vital role in managing public health developments. This research study has analyzed the factors of social media enhancing public health development. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used to rank the factors, and the Decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) is used to find out the network relationship map of the role of social media in public health development. Results of AHP revealed that social media enhances public engagement and participation, collaboration of health professionals worldwide, and helps in remote monitoring of patients. Results of DEMATEL show that the development of health policies, repository of public health-related information, and prevention of health-related misinformation and fake news are classified as the topmost causal factors. Real-time monitoring of health conditions is the factor with the most significant impact on other factors. Policymakers and stakeholders should focus on improving public health through social media. Social media enhances collaboration among health professionals worldwide, and various stakeholders use it to address public health issues in the case of COVID-19.