Patterns of use and perceived value of social media for population health among population health stakeholders: a cross-sectional web-based survey

Abstract Background Although existing studies have described patterns of social media use in healthcare, most are focused on health professionals in one discipline. Population health requires a multi-disciplinary approach to ensure diversity and to include diverse stakeholders. To date, what is known about using social media in population health is focused on its potential as a communication tool. This study aims to investigate patterns of use and perceived value of social media usage among stakeholders in population health practice, policy, or research. Methods We conducted a web-based survey of delegates attending the Singapore Population Health Conversations and Workshop. We designed a 24-item questionnaire to assess 1) social media use in terms of type of platform and frequency of use; 2) perceptions of social media relevance and impact on population health; and 3) top three areas in population health that would benefit from social media. We used descriptive and logistic regression analyses to assess the relationships between variables. Results Of the 308 survey respondents, 97.7% reported that they use social media in some form. Messaging (96.8%) was the most dominant activity when using social media. Challenges in implementing social media for population health were time investment by health care professionals (56.2%) and patient adoption (52.9%). The top three population health areas that would benefit most from using social media were the promotion of healthy behaviors (60.7%), community engagement (47.7%), and preventive care (40.6%). Older respondents (> = 40 years) were less likely to view social media as useful for the promotion of healthy behaviors (OR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.19–0.60). Non-social/healthcare professionals were more likely to consider social media to be useful for community engagement (OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.10–2.76). For preventive care, older respondents (OR = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.32–0.82) and non-social/healthcare professionals were less likely to view social media as useful (OR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.38–0.97). Conclusions Our findings suggest that it may be important to select the specific care areas that would benefit most from using social media. The time investment needed by population health professionals should be fully addressed in planning to maximize the application and potential value of social media.

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Patterns of use and perceived value of social media for population health among population health stakeholders: a cross-sectional web-based survey (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.16126 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Sungwon Yoon ◽

Sharon Wee ◽

Vivian SY Lee ◽

Jing Lin ◽

Julian Thumboo

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Population Health ◽

Social Care ◽

Age Groups ◽

Care Providers ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Web Based ◽

Patterns Of Use ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

Use Of Social Media

BACKGROUND Social media has become a popular tool in many healthcare settings with healthcare professionals commonly using social media to connect and share information. However, existing literature has predominantly focused on professionals in a single clinical discipline. The nature of population health activity necessitates a multi-disciplinary approach and hence involves a diverse range of stakeholders. To date, little is known about the acceptability of the use of social media for population health among various population health stakeholders. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the patterns of use and perceived values of social media among health and social care providers and other stakeholders involved in population health practice, policy or research. METHODS We conducted a web-based cross-sectional survey in April 2019 at the national networking event for practitioners of population health in Singapore. We designed a questionnaire to assess 1) the social media use in terms of platform and frequency and 2) perceptions on the relevance and impact of social media on population health including benefits and limitations of social media use, target population health areas, target age groups and target audiences most likely to benefit from the use of social media. We used descriptive and logistic regression analyses to assess the relationships between variables. RESULTS Of the 308 respondents, the vast majority (97.7%) reported that they use social media. Messaging (96.8%) was the most frequently used mode of social media. In terms of age groups and recipients, participants perceived that 30-39 years (92.2%) and caregivers (87.3%) would benefit most from the use of social media. About three quarters agreed that social media sites or apps (77.0%) were the most useful modes of communication. The main challenges in scaling social media for population health included time investment by health care providers (56.2%) and patient adoption (53.0%). The top three areas in population health that would benefit most from the use of social media included the promotion of healthy behaviours (60.7%), community engagement (47.3%) and preventive care (40.6%). Older respondents (>= 40 years) were less likely to think that social media would be useful for the promotion of healthy behaviours (OR=0.44; 95% CI: 0.28-0.71). Non-social and healthcare providers were more likely to consider that social media would be useful for community engagement (OR= 1.66; 95% CI: 0.13-0.81). For preventive care, older respondents (OR= 0.51; 95% CI: 0.32-0.82) and non-health and social care providers were less likely to think that social media would be useful (OR= 0.61; 95% CI: 0.38-0.97). CONCLUSIONS This study provides valuable insight into the views of population health stakeholders on the use of social media for population health. Findings will be used to inform the design of population health programmes and interventions that employ social media.

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Preserving professional identities, behaviors, and values in digital professionalism using social networking sites; a systematic review

BMC Medical Education ◽

10.1186/s12909-021-02802-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Shaista Salman Guraya ◽

Salman Yousuf Guraya ◽

Muhamad Saiful Bahri Yusoff

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Social Media ◽

Social Networking ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Social Networking Sites ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Professional Identities ◽

Professional Behaviors ◽

Digital Era ◽

Use Of Social Media

Abstract Background Despite a rapid rise of use of social media in medical disciplines, uncertainty prevails among healthcare professionals for providing medical content on social media. There are also growing concerns about unprofessional behaviors and blurring of professional identities that are undermining digital professionalism. This review tapped the literature to determine the impact of social media on medical professionalism and how can professional identities and values be maintained in digital era. Methods We searched the databases of PubMed, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and EBSCO host using (professionalism AND (professionalism OR (professional identity) OR (professional behaviors) OR (professional values) OR (professional ethics))) AND ((social media) AND ((social media) OR (social networking sites) OR Twitter OR Facebook)) AND (health professionals). The research questions were based on sample (health professionals), phenomenon of interest (digital professionalism), design, evaluation and research type. We screened initial yield of titles using pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria and selected a group of articles for qualitative analysis. We used the Biblioshiny® software package for the generation of popular concepts as clustered keywords. Results Our search yielded 44 articles with four leading themes; marked rise in the use of social media by healthcare professionals and students, negative impact of social media on digital professionalism, blurring of medical professional values, behaviors, and identity in the digital era, and limited evidence for teaching and assessing digital professionalism. A high occurrence of violation of patient privacy, professional integrity and cyberbullying were identified. Our search revealed a paucity of existing guidelines and policies for digital professionalism that can safeguard healthcare professionals, students and patients. Conclusions Our systematic review reports a significant rise of unprofessional behaviors in social media among healthcare professionals. We could not identify the desired professional behaviors and values essential for digital identity formation. The boundaries between personal and professional practices are mystified in digital professionalism. These findings call for potential educational ramifications to resurrect professional virtues, behaviors and identities of healthcare professionals and students.

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Social Networking Sites

International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Education ◽

10.4018/ijicte.2016100106 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 62-75

Author(s):

Lydia Kyei-Blankson ◽

Kamakshi S. Iyer ◽

Lavanya Subramanian

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Social Interaction ◽

Social Networking ◽

Survey Data ◽

Social Networking Sites ◽

Relationship Status ◽

Web Based ◽

Patterns Of Use ◽

Midwestern University ◽

Use Of Social Media

Social Networking Sites (SNSs) are web-based facilities that allow for social interaction, sharing, communication and collaboration in today's world. In the current study, patterns of use of social media among students at a public Midwestern university are examined. In addition, students were surveyed regarding concerns for privacy and trust and whether concerns differed by gender, ethnicity, employment and relationship status. The survey data gathered from students suggest that students mostly used SNSs from less than one hour to about 3 hours a day and for communication and maintaining relationships. Students also had academic uses for SNSs. Even though concerns for privacy and trust exist, they did not differ by gender, employment and relationship status and students are still willing to use SNSs. The findings from this research have implications for various stakeholders especially instructors who may be considering the use of SNS for academic purposes.

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Exploring depressive symptoms among healthcare professionals and the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil

10.31124/advance.13491522.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Alex Bacadini França ◽

Clarissa Trzesniak ◽

Patrícia Waltz Schelini ◽

Gerson Hiroshi Yoshinari Júnior ◽

Luciano Magalhães Vitorino

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Missing Data ◽

General Population ◽

Data Collection ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Social Media Networks ◽

Electronic Form ◽

Application Data

Data collection was carried out between May 11 and June 3, 2020 using an online electronic form, which was prepared by using the Google Forms application. Data collection started three months after the sanction of the Brazilian law which regulates about the quarantine period and specific measures against the new coronavirus. The link was sent through social media networks. The estimated time to fulfill the forms was less than 15 minutes. Participants should be 18 years and over, be in quarantine for at least 15 days (except health professionals), be Brazilian or naturalized and reside in Brazilian territory during the pandemic. Questionnaires with missing data were excluded

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ReCAP: Social Media Use Among Physicians and Trainees: Results of a National Medical Oncology Physician Survey

Journal of Oncology Practice ◽

10.1200/jop.2015.006429 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 79-80 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Rachel Adilman ◽

Yanchini Rajmohan ◽

Edward Brooks ◽

Gloria Roldan Urgoiti ◽

Caroline Chung ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Social Networking ◽

Media Use ◽

Care Providers ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Web Based ◽

Patterns Of Use ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

E Mail

QUESTION ASKED: To what extent, and for what purpose, do oncology physicians and physicians-in-training use Web-based social media? SUMMARY ANSWER: Despite the ability of social media to enhance collaboration and knowledge dissemination among health care providers, this cohort survey study identified an overall low use of social media among oncologists, and significant generational gaps and differences in patterns of use. METHODS: A nine-item survey was designed using a survey-generating Web site (SurveyMonkey) and was distributed securely via weekly e-mail messages to 680 oncology physicians and physicians-in-training from July 2013 through September 2013. All responses were received anonymously. Results were analyzed and are reported using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Of 680 surveys sent, 207 were completed, for a response rate of 30.4%. Social media were used by 72% of our survey respondents (95% CI, 66% to 78%; Table 1 ). Results were cross tabulated by age, which revealed a significant difference in social media use by age group, with 89% of trainees, 93% of fellows, and 72% of early-career oncologists reporting social media use, compared with only 39% of mid-career oncologists (P < .05). Respondents reported using each social media platform for either personal or professional purposes, but rarely both. When respondents were questioned regarding barriers to social media use and their hesitations around joining a medically related social media site, the majority (59%) answered, “I don't have enough time.” [Table: see text] BIAS, CONFOUNDING FACTOR(S), DRAWBACKS: This study was conducted online, via e-mail. Therefore, respondents may represent a subpopulation of individuals who already prefer using Web-based technologies and may be more inclined to use social media, compared with individuals who do not use e-mail and were, by default, excluded from the study. We assumed, in designing this study, that the proportion of practicing oncology physicians who do not use e-mail is low. Although our sample size is small, it does represent one third of all registered medical oncologists in Canada. Finally, the high percentage of medical oncologist respondents and the concomitantly low fraction of respondents from other specialties may mean these results are more telling of social media habits in the aforementioned demographic rather than other oncology specialties. REAL-LIFE IMPLICATIONS: Our study revealed that oncology physicians and physicians-in-training who participate in Web-based social networking are largely within the younger age cohorts, whereas mid-career oncologists (age 45 to 54 years) are largely absent from the social media scene. Gaps in social networking use between younger physicians and trainees and older generations of physicians may result in critical gaps in communication, collaboration, and mentorship between these demographics. It is hoped that with further research into understanding patterns of use and limitations, medical professionals and trainees may increase their use of social media for networking, education, mentorship, and improved patient care.

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Preserving Professional Identities, Behaviors, and Values in Digital Professionalism: A Scoping Review

10.21203/rs.3.rs-45977/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shaista Salman Guraya ◽

Salman Yousuf Guraya ◽

Muhammad Saiful Bahri Yusoff

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Professional Values ◽

Rapid Rise ◽

Professional Identities ◽

Digital Era ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Despite a rapid rise of use of social media in medical disciplines, uncertainty prevails among healthcare professionals for providing medical content on social media. There are also growing concerns about unprofessional behaviors and blurring of professional identities that are undermining digital professionalism. This review tapped the literature to determine the impact of social media on medical professionalism and how can professional identities and values be maintained in digital era. Methods We searched the databases of PubMed, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and EBSCO host using (professionalism AND (professionalism OR (professional identity) OR (professional behaviors) OR (professional values) OR (professional ethics))) AND ((social media) AND ((social media) OR (social networking sites) OR Twitter OR facebook)) AND (health professionals). The research questions were based on participants (health professionals), concept (professionalism), and context (social media, digital world). We screened initial yield of titles using pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria and selected a group of articles for qualitative analysis. We used the Biblioshiny® software package for generation of popular concepts as clustered keywords. Results Our search yielded 44 articles with four leading themes; marked rise in use of social media by healthcare professionals and students, negative impact of social media on digital professionalism, blurring of medical professional values, behaviors, and identity in digital era, limited evidence for teaching and assessing digital professionalism. A high occurrence of violation of patient privacy and professional integrity and cyberbullying is reported. There are no existing guidelines and policies for digital professionalism that can safeguard healthcare professionals, students and patients. Conclusion Our scoping review reports a rapid rise of unprofessional behaviors on social media among healthcare professionals. The boundaries between personal and professional practices are mystified in digital professionalism. These findings call for potential educational ramifications to resurrect professional virtues, behaviors and identities of healthcare professionals and students.

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Dolezal, L., Rose, A., and Cooper, F. COVID-19, Online Shaming and Healthcare Professionals.

10.31219/osf.io/7ya8v ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Luna Dolezal ◽

Arthur Rose ◽

Fred Cooper

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Social Media ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Media Use ◽

Social Consequences ◽

Care Workers ◽

Deadly Disease

As previous pandemics have taught us, coming into contact with, or being associated with, a highly infectious and potentially deadly disease has social consequences. Hence, it is no surprise that stigma and shame have developed around COVID-19. Although there have been outpourings of support and admiration for health-care workers for their work in this pandemic, health professionals have been among those directly affected. This article considers how shame has been part of healthcare workers’ experience during the COVID-19 pandemic because of social media use and instances of online shaming.

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Mental Health Peer to Peer Support via Social Media practice reference During COVID-19 Pandemics

10.31234/osf.io/u4pqy ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mei Wang ◽

Wei Jiang ◽

Pu Cheng

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Peer Support ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Peer To Peer ◽

The Novel ◽

Psychological Practice ◽

Novel Model

This article describes a psychological practice reference to provide peer support via social media, derived from the experience learned from our intervention project, which was developed and carried out by a group of experienced mental health professionals, offering peer psychological support to healthcare professionals working at the frontline of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China. The authors describe the infrastructure of the team and the novel model of peer-to-peer crisis intervention via social media. This offers a model for intervention that can be used elsewhere for current pandemic and future crises.

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Social Media Adoption by Health Professionals: A TAM-Based Study

Informatics ◽

10.3390/informatics8010006 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 6

Author(s):

Md Irfanuzzaman Khan ◽

M Abu Saleh ◽

Ali Quazi

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Technology Acceptance ◽

Peer Influence ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Media Usage ◽

Acceptable Model ◽

Acceptance Model

This research identifies the underlying drivers impacting on healthcare professionals’ social media usage behaviours using the technology acceptance model (TAM) as the theoretical lens. A self-administered survey questionnaire was developed and administered to 219 healthcare professionals. Data are analysed applying the structural equation modelling (SEM) technique. The SEM model demonstrated an acceptable model fit (χ2 = 534.241; df, 239, χ2/df = 2.235, RMSEA = 0.06, IFI = 0.92, TLI = 0.93, and CFI = 0.92) and indicates content quality, perceived risk, perceived credibility, peer influence, confirmation of expectations, supporting conditions, and perceived cost significantly influence the notion of perceived social media usefulness. Furthermore, perceived social media usefulness positively affects social media usage behaviour of healthcare professionals. This research generates important insights into what drives the adoption of social media by healthcare professionals. These insights could help develop social media guidelines and strategies to improve the state of professional interactions between health professionals and their clients.

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Predatory journals, fake conferences and misleading social media: The dark side of medical information

Slovenian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2478/sjph-2021-0012 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 60 (2) ◽

pp. 79-81

Author(s):

Suzana Kert ◽

Igor Švab

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Medical Information ◽

Dark Side ◽

Information Revolution ◽

Predatory Journals ◽

The Public ◽

Health Damage ◽

Lay Public

Abstract We live in an age of information revolution, where trends in informing physicians and the lay public bring new challenges that must be faced by healthcare professionals. Predatory journals and fake conferences are common. Social media is full of false information, which results in serious public health damage. Therefore, it is important that health professionals communicate properly with the public and patients and that they address the education of both the public and other health professionals.

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