Abstract

EFFECT OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN HEALTH CARE: USES, RISKS, AND BARRIERS

Shashi Pratap Singh, Dr. A.k. Rai, Ankita Wal, Dr.Gaurav Tiwari, Ruchi Tiwari, Asfa Parveen

ABSTRACT

Social media are now providing a space to discuss medical conditions outside of the healthcare providers’ office. Patients and their families use social media technologies to share their experiences and their findings and educate others with similar conditions. Social media provides a forum for reporting personal experiences, asking questions, and receiving direct feedback for people living with a disease. The many uses of social media applications in health include: Access to educational resources by health providers and patients. Physicians most often join online communities where they can read news articles, listen to experts, research medical developments, consult colleagues regarding patient issues, and network A survey of more than 4,000 physicians conducted by the social media site Quantia MD found that more than 90% of physicians use some form of social media for personal activities, whereas only 65% use these sites for professional reasons. There are many existing examples of successful health organisation efforts in both the public and private sectors. Private health- -‐care organisations, such as the Mayo Clinic, government public health agencies, such as the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC)and internationally, notably the World Health Organisation (WHO) have all developed successful social media programs which continue to grow. A major risk associated with the use of social media is the posting of unprofessional content that can reflect unfavourably on HCPs, students, and affiliated institutions. Physicians and other healthcare providers should not discuss patients’ illnesses, medical conditions, or personal information online without the patients’ permission. Health care providers also face limitations and barriers if they want to share patient health stories using social media.

Keywords: Social media, World Health Organisation, Centers for Disease Control, Physicians, HCPs,