scholarly journals Social Media and Health Care (Part II): Narrative Review of Social Media Use by Patients (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deema Farsi ◽  
Hector R Martinez-Menchaca ◽  
Mohammad Ahmed ◽  
Nada Farsi
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Media Use ◽  
The United States ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
The Public ◽  
Use Of Social Media

BACKGROUND People are now connected in a borderless web-based world. The modern public, especially the younger generation, relies heavily on the internet as the main source of health-related information. In health care, patients can use social media for more tailored uses such as telemedicine, finding a provider, and for peer support. OBJECTIVE The aim of this narrative review is to discuss how social media has been used in the health care industry from the perspective of patients and describe the main issues surrounding its use in health care. METHODS Between March and June 2020, a review of the literature was conducted on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science for English studies that were published since 2007 and discussed the use of social media in health care. In addition to only English publications that discussed the use of social media by patients, publications pertaining to ethical and legal considerations in the use of social media were included. The studies were then categorized as <i>health information</i>, <i>telemedicine</i>, <i>finding a health care provider</i>, <i>peer support and sharing experiences</i>, and <i>influencing positive health behavior</i>. In addition, two more sections were added to the review: <i>issues pertaining to social media use in health care</i> and <i>ethical considerations</i>. RESULTS Initially, 75 studies were included. As the study proceeded, more studies were included, and a total of 91 studies were reviewed, complemented by 1 textbook chapter and 13 web references. Approximately half of the studies were reviews. The first study was published in 2009, and the last was published in 2021, with more than half of the studies published in the last 5 years. The studies were mostly from the United States (n=40), followed by Europe (n=13), and the least from India (n=1). WhatsApp or WeChat was the most investigated social media platform. CONCLUSIONS Social media can be used by the public and patients to improve their health and knowledge. However, due diligence must be practiced to assess the credibility of the information obtained and its source. Health care providers, patients, and the public need not forget the risks associated with the use of social media. The limitations and shortcomings of the use of social media by patients should be understood.

Social Media Use Among Health Care Providers: 40 Years

CHEST Journal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 149 (4) ◽  
pp. A234
Author(s):  
Lauren Quisenberry ◽  
Zoya Surani ◽  
Saherish Surani ◽  
Sivakumar Sudhakaran ◽  
Salim Surani
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Social Media Use

The Use of Social Media in Disaster Situations

2012 ◽  
pp. 11-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guido Lang ◽  
Raquel Benbunan-Fich
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Virginia Tech ◽  
Information Gathering ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Prior Work ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
The Public ◽  
Virginia Tech Tragedy ◽  
Use Of Social Media

Recent disasters highlight the importance of social media supporting critical information gathering and dissemination efforts by members of the public. Given that disasters pose unique challenges and social media are evolving rapidly, how can one compare the effectiveness of social media in different disaster situations? Drawing from prior work on e-participation, this paper proposes a novel framework for social media use based on four key modules: selection, facilitation, deliberation, and aggregation. A comparative analysis of social media use following a man-made disaster (the 2007 Virginia Tech tragedy) and during a natural disaster (the 2009 Britain blizzard) exemplifies the value of the proposed framework. Future research can build on and leverage the present work by analyzing and incorporating additional cases on the use of social media in disaster situations.

scholarly journals Use of Social Media Platforms among Adults in the United States—Behavior on Social Media

Societies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Hruska ◽  
Petra Maresova
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Media Use ◽  
The United States ◽  
Brand Awareness ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Household Incomes ◽  
The U.S

Social media has evolved over the last decade to become an important driver for acquiring and spreading information in different domains such as business, entertainment, crisis management, and politics. The increasing popularity of social media raises a number of questions regarding why we use it so much and what aspects influence this activity. What about gender? What about education, income, age or social status? This paper answers some of these questions using statistical analyses and by dividing overall social media use into selected social media, i.e., Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and Twitter. The analysis used a dataset that contains information related to 2002 respondents from the U.S. and their social media activity. The results show that people with high household incomes and high education use social media the most. As age increases, social media use decreases, while bigger household income means that social media are used more. Overall, understanding where and at what frequency users are on social media can be a key competitive advantage. When using social networks correctly for marketing, companies can significantly improve their brand awareness, customer satisfaction, quality, reach, and profit.

A human rights perspective on the use of social media by the ambulance services

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 532-537
Author(s):  
Chris Jones
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Ambulance Service ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
The Public ◽  
Legal Duty ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
The Uk

Social media use on behalf of ambulance services by paramedics, student paramedics and ancillary staff—‘corporate tweeting’, as it has become known—has in recent times been the subject of much debate in the paramedic profession. It has been argued that social media use is an unstoppable tide and a necessary means of imparting information to members of the public about the work the ambulance service performs. Conversely, others have argued that by tweeting about their patients, the ambulance service is breaching a fundamental code of professional ethics due to the use of confidential patient data. This article explores the UK legal framework of privacy and confidence in the healthcare context, from a human rights perspective, and seeks to demonstrate that some corporate tweeting has breached not only ethical standards, but may also have crossed the line into unlawfulness owing to the public nature of the organisations involved, and their legal duty to protect the human rights of their service users.

scholarly journals Social Media Use Among Young Adults With Connective Tissue Disorders: Cross-Sectional Pilot Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin F Kelleher ◽  
Philip F Giampietro ◽  
Megan A Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Young People ◽  
Connective Tissue ◽  
Similar Condition ◽  
Media Use ◽  
The United States ◽  
Connective Tissue Disorders ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Use Of Social Media

BACKGROUND Young people with genetic conditions often face challenges coping with their health condition. It can be difficult for them to meet someone with a similar condition, which is important for reinforcement of chronic illness management recommendations. Social media is used by 97% of young people in the United States and may provide those with these disorders a space for emotional expression and support. However, there is a scarcity of literature related to the use of social media among adolescents with genetic conditions as an indicator of their perception regarding their own condition. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this pilot study was to obtain preliminary data to assess and understand social media use by young people with connective tissue disorders and determine whether they use social media to connect with patients with similar conditions or whether they would be interested in doing so. METHODS We undertook a pilot study of selected connective tissue disorders occurring in young people between the ages of 11 and 25 years, including Marfan syndrome; Ehlers-Danlos syndrome subtypes classical, classical-like, cardiac-valvular, and vascular; Beals congenital contractual arachnodactyly; and Alport hereditary nephritis. The study took place within one pediatric clinical system. Patients were identified through electronic medical record search and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, coding at a Midwest university–based clinical system. Study subjects completed a short survey describing their experiences with their connective tissue disorders, their means of self-expression, their existing network of persons to communicate with, and their use of social media. Data analysis included nominal and bivariate regressions to compare social media use in relation to age. RESULTS Our 31 participants (42% response rate) were 55% female (17/31) and their average age was 18 years (SD 5). All participants used social media and there were no statistically significant differences between social media use and age. The majority of participants (25/30, 83%) reported that they never used social media to discuss their condition (<i>P</i>=.09), and only 17% (5/30) knew someone online with a similar condition (<i>P</i>=.50). Most participants (19/30, 63%) said they would communicate with someone with a similar disorder (<i>P</i>=.64). CONCLUSIONS We found that young individuals with connective tissue disorders use at least one type of social media. A majority did not use social media to discuss their condition or know someone online with a similar condition. However, many persons were interested in finding others similarly affected. Social media could serve as a platform for young people with connective tissue disorders to connect. Peer support is important in disease management and adolescent development. Future studies should aim at understanding social media use among young people with connective tissue disorders and helping them connect with other people who have similar conditions.

An Analysis of the Use and Policies Regarding Social Media Use as a Work Tool in Public Rehabilitation

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Garcia ◽  
Robert J. Zeglin ◽  
Shari Matray ◽  
Robert Froehlich ◽  
Ronica Marable ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Media Use ◽  
The United States ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ethical Practice ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Public Rehabilitation

Purpose: The purpose of this article was to gather descriptive data on the professional use of social media in public rehabilitation settings and to analyze existing social media policies in those agencies through content analysis.Methods: The authors sent a survey to all state administrators or directors of these agencies (N = 50) in the United States, requesting frequency and other descriptive information, plus a copy of their social media policies (if available). The available policies were reviewed using content analysis procedures.Results: The results showed that although the frequency of social media use was high, training and inclusion of ethics was low. Regarding policy, approximately 42% reported a lack of an existing policy, and 38% were unsure about having a policy guide. The analysis of the available policies yielded 11 themes around which these policies were organized.Discussion: The authors offer a discussion of these results and its implications for policy and practice as well as future research. These include the need for more comprehensive social media policy creation in agencies and the role of clinical supervisors in ensuring ethical practice.

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

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-80 ◽  
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.

The Use of Social Media in Disaster Situations

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guido Lang ◽  
Raquel Benbunan-Fich
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Virginia Tech ◽  
Information Gathering ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Prior Work ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
The Public ◽  
Virginia Tech Tragedy ◽  
Use Of Social Media

Recent disasters highlight the importance of social media supporting critical information gathering and dissemination efforts by members of the public. Given that disasters pose unique challenges and social media are evolving rapidly, how can one compare the effectiveness of social media in different disaster situations? Drawing from prior work on e-participation, this article proposes a novel framework for social media use based on four key modules: selection, facilitation, deliberation, and aggregation. A comparative analysis of social media use following a man-made disaster (the 2007 Virginia Tech tragedy) and during a natural disaster (the 2009 Britain blizzard) exemplifies the value of the proposed framework. Future research can build on and leverage the present work by analyzing and incorporating additional cases on the use of social media in disaster situations.

scholarly journals Professionalism in a Digital Age: Opportunities and Considerations for Using Social Media in Health Care

2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 406-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kendra Gagnon ◽  
Carla Sabus
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Remarkable Change

Since the beginning of the millennium, there has been a remarkable change in how people access and share information. Much of this information is user-generated content found on social media sites. As digital technologies and social media continue to expand, health care providers must adapt their professional communication to meet the expectations and needs of consumers. This adaptation may include communication on social media sites. However, many health care providers express concerns that professional social media use, particularly interactions with patients, is ethically problematic. Social media engagement does not create ethical dissonance if best practices are observed and online communication adheres to terms of service, professional standards, and organizational policy. A well-executed social media presence provides health care providers, including physical therapists, the opportunity—and perhaps a professional obligation—to use social media sites to share or create credible health care information, filling a consumer void for high-quality online information on fitness, wellness, and rehabilitation. This perspective article provides a broad review of the emergence of social media in society and health care, explores policy implications of organizational adoption of health care social media, and proposes individual opportunities and guidelines for social media use by the physical therapy professional.

scholarly journals Health Researchers’ Use of Social Media: Scoping Review (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justine Dol ◽  
Perri R Tutelman ◽  
Christine T Chambers ◽  
Melanie Barwick ◽  
Emily K Drake ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Full Text ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Evidence Synthesis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Abstract Level ◽  
Use Of Social Media

BACKGROUND Health researchers are increasingly using social media in a professional capacity, and the applications of social media for health researchers are vast. However, there is currently no published evidence synthesis of the ways in which health researchers use social media professionally, and uncertainty remains as to how best to harness its potential. OBJECTIVE This scoping review aimed to explore how social media is used by health researchers professionally, as reported in the literature. METHODS The scoping review methodology guided by Arksey and O’Malley and Levac et al was used. Comprehensive searches based on the concepts of health research and social media were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ERIC, and Web of Science databases, with no limitations applied. Articles were screened at the title and abstract level and at full text by two reviewers. One reviewer extracted data that were analyzed descriptively to map the available evidence. RESULTS A total of 8359 articles were screened at the title and abstract level, of which 719 were also assessed at full text for eligibility. The 414 articles identified for inclusion were published in 278 different journals. Studies originated from 31 different countries, with the most prevalent being the United States (52.7% [218/414]). The health discipline of the first authors varied, with medicine (33.3% [138/414]) being the most common. A third of the articles covered health generally, with 61 health-specific topics. Papers used a range of social media platforms (mean 1.33 [SD 0.7]). A quarter of the articles screened reported on social media use for participant recruitment (25.1% [104/414]), followed by practical ways to use social media (15.5% [64/414]), and use of social media for content analysis research (13.3% [55/414]). Articles were categorized as <italic>celebratory</italic> (ie, opportunities for engagement, 72.2% [299/414]), <italic>contingent</italic> (ie, opportunities and possible limitations, 22.7% [94/414]) and <italic>concerned</italic> (ie, potentially harmful, 5.1% [21/414]). CONCLUSIONS Health researchers are increasingly publishing on their use of social media for a range of professional purposes. Although most of the sentiment around the use of social media in health research was celebratory, the uses of social media varied widely. Future research is needed to support health researchers to optimize their social media use.

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