Use of Social Media for Professional Development by Health Care Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey

With the advent of telecommunication technologies and social media, many health care professionals are using social media to communicate with their patients and to promote health. However, the literature reveals a lacuna in our understanding of health care professionals’ perception of their behavioral intentions to use innovations. Using the Unified Technology Acceptance Framework (unified theory of acceptance and use of technology), in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 Australian health care experts to uncover their intent and actual use of social media in their medical practices. Results revealed that social media tools offered five significant benefits such as (i) enhanced communication between health care professionals and their patients, (ii) community support, (iii) enabled e-learning, (iv) enhanced professional network, and (v) expedited health promotion. However, result also revealed barriers to social media usage including (i) inefficiency, (ii) privacy concerns, (iii) poor quality of information, (iv) lack of trust, and (v) blurred professional boundary. Peer influence and supporting conditions were also found to be determinants of social media adoption behaviors among health care professionals. This study has important implications for health care providers, patients, and policy makers on the responsible use of social media, health promotion, and health communication. This research is also among the very few studies that explore Australian health care professionals’ intent and actual use of innovations within a health care setting.

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Social Networking App Use Among Primary Health Care Professionals: Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

JMIR mhealth and uhealth ◽

10.2196/11147 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (12) ◽

pp. e11147 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Francesc X Marin-Gomez ◽

Francesc Garcia Cuyas ◽

Ramon Reig-Bolano ◽

Jacobo Mendioroz ◽

Pere Roura-Poch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Primary Health Care ◽

Social Networking ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Web Based ◽

Primary Health

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Use of Social Media in Health Communication: Findings From the Health Information National Trends Survey 2013, 2014, and 2017

Cancer Control ◽

10.1177/1073274819841442 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 107327481984144 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Jinhai Huo ◽

Raj Desai ◽

Young-Rock Hong ◽

Kea Turner ◽

Arch G. Mainous ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Social Media ◽

Health Communication ◽

Sample Size ◽

Health Information ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Medical Information ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

National Trends ◽

Pooled Sample

The number of social media users has increased substantially in the past decade, creating an opportunity for health-care professionals and patients to leverage social media for health communication. This study examines the recent use and predictors of social media for health communication in a nationally representative sample of US adults over time. We used 2013, 2014, and 2017 National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends Survey to identify respondents’ use of social media for sharing health information or exchanging medical information with a health-care professional. We conducted bivariate analysis using the Pearson χ2 test to assess the association of respondents’ basic demographic characteristics as well as health status and the use of social media for health communication. We performed multivariable logistic regression models to examine factors associated with the use of social media for health communication. We identified 4242 respondents (weighted sample size: 343 465 241 [2-year pooled sample]) who used social media for sharing health information and 4834 respondents (weighted sample size: 354 419 489 [2-year pooled sample]) who used social media for exchanging medical information. Multivariable analyses indicated the proportion of respondents who used social media for sharing health information has decreased (odds ratio [OR], 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49-0.85, P = .002), while the use of social media for exchanging medical information with a health-care professional has increased (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.09-3.26, P = .025). The younger population had significantly higher odds of using social media for health communication. The study found no racial/ethnic disparities in the use of social media for health communication. Use of social media for sharing health information has declined, while exchanging medical information with health-care professionals has increased. Future research is needed to determine how to engage the population in social media–based health interventions, particularly for older adults.

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COVID-19 Fear Among Health Care Workers (HCW) and Non-HCW in IGMC, Shimla: An Online Questionnaire-Based Prospective Study

Recent Advances in Biology and Medicine ◽

10.18639/rabm.2021.1520804 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Girish K Sharma ◽

Pamposh Raina ◽

Kailash C Barwal ◽

Manjeet Kumar ◽

Vineet Kumar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Web Based ◽

Care Workers ◽

Fear And Anxiety

The unremitting COVID-19 pandemic is evoking anxiety, fear, panic, and socio-occupational stress among human population all around the globe. This cross-sectional study was planned to assess the fear and anxiety because of COVID-19 pandemic among health care professionals, patients, and general public in IGMC, Shimla. A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted in month of December 2020. COVID-19 fear questionnaire was used to assess fear among participants. A total of 162 responses were received. Ninety-five (41.35%) respondents were males and 67(58.64%) were females. Average total score of COVID-19 fear based on questionnaire was 17.71 among the participants. The majority of respondents 67(41.4%) were afraid of COVID-19, 53(32.7%) were neutral, whereas 42 (25.9%) were not afraid of COVID-19. Sixty-two (38.3%) responders were uncomfortable thinking about COVID-19, whereas, 67(41.4%) were not uncomfortable. Only 22 (13.6%) participants felt their hands clammy when they thought of COVID-19, 78 (48.15%) respondents were afraid of losing their life, 78 (48.15%) respondents disagreed with the question of being nervous or anxious to hear news and stories of COVID-19. Thirteen (8%) participants were informed of sleeplessness, and 22 (13.5%) reported palpitations due to COVID-19 fear. COVID-19 fear was evident in 65.15% of all males and 55.8% of all females’ respondents, respectively. Seventy percent of participants of age more than 40 years were afraid of COVID-19, whereas only 54.83% participants of less than 40 years had COVID-19 fear. COVID-19 fear was more evident among non-HCW (74.42%) as compared to HCW in whom it was seen in 53.03% participants. Rampaging Pandemic has ingrained fear and anxiety among non-HCW as well as health care workers. But undeterred by COVID-19 fear, majority of participants didn’t fear death and didn’t have other effects of fear. Despite (can be used) surging pandemic when fear of COVID-19 is soaring, HCW and non-HCW could work, think, and live.

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Use of Social Media by Cardiovascular Health Care Professionals

JACC Cardiovascular Imaging ◽

10.1016/j.jcmg.2021.02.012 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Matteo Castrichini ◽

Vincenzo Nuzzi ◽

Gianfranco Sinagra ◽

John Cleland ◽

Pierpaolo Pellicori

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Social Media ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Use Of Social Media

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Health Care Professionals’ Social Media Behavior and the Underlying Factors of Social Media Adoption and Use: Quantitative Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.12035 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Joe Hazzam ◽

Abdelmounaim Lahrech

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Social Media ◽

Interpersonal Communication ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Medical Information ◽

Care Practice ◽

Frequency Of Use ◽

Social Media Platforms ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

Productivity Enhancement

BACKGROUND In the last decade, social media has emerged as a newer platform for knowledge dissemination, information exchange, and interpersonal communication for health care professionals (HCPs). However, the underlying behaviors of HCPs and the ethical use of social media for productivity enhancement and a sustainable health care system remain ambiguous. OBJECTIVE This study seeks to understand the factors that relate to the frequency use of social media in the health care discipline. It also aims to explore the underlying online behaviors of HCPs, which include the exchange of medical information with peers, interpersonal communication, and productivity enhancement in their daily practice. METHODS This study adopted the quantitative method in collecting and analyzing data. A survey instrument based on the behavioral and technology acceptance theories was developed for this purpose. The survey was distributed via social media platforms to 973 participants that included physicians, pharmacists, and allied HCPs working in the United Arab Emirates. The responses from 203 completed questionnaires (response rate 20.3%) were analyzed. RESULTS Of 203 respondents, 133 HCPs used WhatsApp (65.5%); therefore, WhatsApp had the highest number of users compared to Facebook and YouTube, with 101 users out of 203 (49.7%). Overall, 109 of 203 (53.6%) HCPs used social media platforms for the exchange of peer medical information and 108 of 203 (53.2%) used social media several times during the day to improve their interpersonal communication with colleagues. However, only 71 of 203 (34.9%) utilized social media to enhance their productivity in general. The structural model equation showed that behavioral intention (beta=.47; P<.001), habit (beta=.26; P=.001), attitude (beta=.20; P=.002), and perceived usefulness (beta=.12; P=.09) were positively and significantly related to frequency of use. The model explained a rate of 45% variance in the frequency of use and a rate of 17% variance in the social media intention of use. CONCLUSIONS The research highlights the significant factors that relate to the adoption of social media platforms in health care practice. Based on the findings of this study, the use of online platforms facilitates the exchange of medical information among peers and enhances the share of experiences that support HCP’s learning and development. Moreover, social media platforms foster a higher level of communication among practitioners and might improve daily productivity. Future researchers might explore other variables such as training and external factors. For instance, they may draw on areas related to guidelines and policies. From this standpoint, the health care discipline can benefit from highly interactive platforms and adopt them for development, collaboration, and better health outcomes.

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Social Media and Medical Education in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.25892 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Marc Katz ◽

Neilanjan Nandi

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Social Media ◽

Medical Education ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Informal Education ◽

Medical Training ◽

Leadership Roles ◽

Cultural Changes ◽

Social Media Platforms ◽

Use Of Social Media

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has brought virtual web-based learning to the forefront of medical education as training programs adapt to physical distancing challenges while maintaining the rigorous standards of medical training. Social media has unique and partially untapped potential to supplement formal medical education. OBJECTIVE The aim of this review is to provide a summary of the incentives, applications, challenges, and pitfalls of social media–based medical education for both trainees and educators. METHODS We performed a literature review via PubMed of medical research involving social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, and podcasts. Papers were reviewed for inclusion based on the integrity and power of the study. RESULTS The unique characteristics of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, and podcasts endow them with unique communication capabilities that serve different educational purposes in both formal and informal education settings. However, contemporary medical education curricula lack widespread guidance on meaningful use, application, and deployment of social media in medical education. CONCLUSIONS Clinicians and institutions must evolve to embrace the use of social media platforms for medical education. Health care professionals can approach social media engagement in the same ethical manner that they would with patients in person; however, health care institutions ultimately must enable their health care professionals to achieve this by enacting realistic social media policies. Institutions should appoint clinicians with strong social media experience to leadership roles to spearhead these generational and cultural changes. Further studies are needed to better understand how health care professionals can most effectively use social media platforms as educational tools. Ultimately, social media is here to stay, influencing lay public knowledge and trainee knowledge. Clinicians and institutions must embrace this complementary modality of trainee education and champion social media as a novel distribution platform that can also help propagate truth in a time of misinformation, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

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A Web-Based Survey Assessing the Attitudes of Health Care Professionals in Germany Toward the Use of Telemedicine in Pregnancy Monitoring: Cross-Sectional Study

JMIR mhealth and uhealth ◽

10.2196/10063 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (8) ◽

pp. e10063 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Niklas Grassl ◽

Juliane Nees ◽

Katharina Schramm ◽

Julia Spratte ◽

Christof Sohn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Web Based ◽

In Pregnancy

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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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Responding to Unsolicited Medical Requests from Health Care Professionals on Pharmaceutical Industry-Owned Social Media Sites: Three Pilot Studies (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.9643 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Andrea M TenBarge ◽

Jennifer L Riggins

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Social Media ◽

Pharmaceutical Industry ◽

Annual Meeting ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Medical Information ◽

Information Contact ◽

Contact Center ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

Community Manager

BACKGROUND The use of social media has risen tremendously over the past decade with usage rates spanning from 5% American adults in 2005 up to 69% in 2016. A 2011 survey of 4033 clinicians found that 65% physicians use social media for professional purposes. To meet the changing needs and preferences of their customers, medical information departments within the pharmaceutical industry must continue to assess new digital channels such as social media and evolve their medical information services. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to pilot the use of social media as an additional channel to respond to unsolicited medical requests from health care professionals (HCP RUR) directed toward the pharmaceutical industry. METHODS From November 2016 to June 2017, 3 pilots were conducted during 3 professional congresses: the 2016 American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting, the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, and the 2017 American Headache Society Annual Scientific Meeting. For each social media account, an identified community manager monitored the incoming account feed for proper triaging of posts. When an unsolicited medical request appeared, the community manager routed the question to the Tier One medical information contact center agents to respond. The following metrics were collected: total number of unsolicited requests directed to medical information contact center agents, total number of unsolicited requests that required escalation to Tier Two medical information associates, total number of unsolicited requests that were confirmed US HCPs, total number of unsolicited requests received after hours, and total number of unsolicited requests that were redirected to a different channel. RESULTS During the 3 pilots, 9 unsolicited medical requests were received with request numbers ranging from 2 to 4 requests per pilot. Of these, 1 was from a confirmed US HCP that required escalation to the Tier Two medical information associates. A majority of requests (7 out of 9) came in after the scheduled monitoring hours. There were 4 requests redirected to the medical information contact center phone number. The marketing accounts received more unsolicited medical requests than the corporate accounts (7 vs 2, respectively), and the 3 Twitter accounts saw more overall engagement (ie, medical requests and other general engagement) than the LinkedIn account. CONCLUSIONS A limited number of medical questions were asked by confirmed HCPs using social media during the 3 pilots. New innovative medical information contact center channels often take time to build awareness. Continued channel awareness is needed to fully understand the channel’s desired use. Because consumers currently make up a majority of social media engagement, companies should look into creating a combined consumer and HCP RUR strategy to provide a better experience for all customers.

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