[Purpose/significance] The increasing prevalence and pernicious impact of misinformation on social media present a formidable challenge for which algorithms and experts alone are increasingly inadequate. Research has dem⁃onstrated that proactive individual verification of information can effectively combat misinformation. Therefore, it is im⁃perative to investigate strategies to boost social media users' intention to verify information before sharing it. [Method/process] Based on the theory of planned behavior, this study aims to construct a model on the factors that influence us⁃ers' intention to verify before sharing on social media. An empirical test was conducted to validate the proposed model and all assumptions. [Result/conclusion] The results indicate that five factors fundamentally influence users' verifica⁃tion intention before sharing on social media. Specifically, competency and awareness enhance perceived behavioral control, while awareness, discussion heterogeneity preference, and third-person perception increase attitudes, and per⁃
ceived social support strengthens subjective norms. Furthermore, perceived behavioral control, attitudes, and subjec⁃tive norms strengthen verification intention before sharing. Subjective norms also indirectly promote verification inten⁃tion by promoting attitudes. However, perceived information overload negatively moderates the association between per⁃ceived behavioral control and verification intention before sharing. The findings deepen the understanding of users' health information verification behaviour and provide new insights for stakeholders in health misinformation gover⁃nance.