scholarly journals Attitudes of Nurses Towards Searching Online for Medical Information for Personal Health Needs: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avi Zigdon ◽  
Tamar Zigdon ◽  
Daniel Sender Moran
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Online Search ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Primary Means ◽  
Personal Needs

BACKGROUND Use of online clinical health care information has become part of the skill set required by medical teams. Nurses believe that information quality and availability affect nursing care and methods. However, nurses tend not to exploit professional medical databases for evidence-based medical information for their personal needs. This phenomenon has received little research attention. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to address the knowledge gap around nurses' attitudes towards searching online for medical information for their personal needs (ie, for themselves and their families) by (1) evaluating the level of exposure to medical information and the effect on attitudes towards the use of online search options, (2) assessing the effect of the choice of a primary means of searching for medical information on the attitudes towards the use of online search options, and (3) gauging the influence of sociodemographic data and health status on nurses’ attitudes towards searching online for medical information. METHODS Nurses employed in general departments in a general hospital (34/210, 16.2%), nursing home (42/200, 21.0%), and geriatric medical center (45/180, 25.0%) in Israel were invited to complete the eHealth Impact Questionnaire (alpha=.95). Questionnaires were distributed by nurses in charge of the general hospitalization wards. The data collection period was February to March 2018. The response rate was 40.3% (121/300). RESULTS Nurses tended to search for medical information for personal needs on social media (24/121, 19.8%) and TV (eg, health programs, health news; 23/121, 19.0%). Nurses who chose social media as their primary means of receiving general information had a positive attitude about using the online environment as a source for medical information compared to nurses who found information through other means (<i>t</i><sub>119</sub>=4.44, <i>P</i><.001). Nurses exposed to medical information via social media had a positive attitude towards the use of the internet to find medical information compared to nurses who were not exposed to social media (<i>t</i><sub>119</sub>=3.04, <i>P</i>=.003). The attitudes of nurses towards the utility of online medical information for personal needs increased with better participant health status (<i>F</i><sub>2,118</sub>=3.63, <i>P</i>=.03). However, the attitudes of participants with a chronic disease did not differ from those of healthy participants. CONCLUSIONS Nurses in Israel are less likely to use their professional skills and knowledge to search in professional databases for evidence-based medical information for their personal needs. Instead, they prefer medical information that is easy to access and not evidence-based, such as that on social media and TV. However, these search patterns for personal use may affect their clinical role, impair quality of care, and lead to incorrect medical decisions for their patients in the health care system. Therefore, during nursing education, training for searching skills, retrieval skills, and online search techniques for evidence-based medical information is vital for evidence-based practice.

scholarly journals Attitudes of Nurses Towards Searching Online for Medical Information for Personal Health Needs: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study

10.2196/16133 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. e16133
Author(s):  
Avi Zigdon ◽  
Tamar Zigdon ◽  
Daniel Sender Moran
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Online Search ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Primary Means ◽  
Personal Needs

Background Use of online clinical health care information has become part of the skill set required by medical teams. Nurses believe that information quality and availability affect nursing care and methods. However, nurses tend not to exploit professional medical databases for evidence-based medical information for their personal needs. This phenomenon has received little research attention. Objective This study aimed to address the knowledge gap around nurses' attitudes towards searching online for medical information for their personal needs (ie, for themselves and their families) by (1) evaluating the level of exposure to medical information and the effect on attitudes towards the use of online search options, (2) assessing the effect of the choice of a primary means of searching for medical information on the attitudes towards the use of online search options, and (3) gauging the influence of sociodemographic data and health status on nurses’ attitudes towards searching online for medical information. Methods Nurses employed in general departments in a general hospital (34/210, 16.2%), nursing home (42/200, 21.0%), and geriatric medical center (45/180, 25.0%) in Israel were invited to complete the eHealth Impact Questionnaire (alpha=.95). Questionnaires were distributed by nurses in charge of the general hospitalization wards. The data collection period was February to March 2018. The response rate was 40.3% (121/300). Results Nurses tended to search for medical information for personal needs on social media (24/121, 19.8%) and TV (eg, health programs, health news; 23/121, 19.0%). Nurses who chose social media as their primary means of receiving general information had a positive attitude about using the online environment as a source for medical information compared to nurses who found information through other means (t119=4.44, P<.001). Nurses exposed to medical information via social media had a positive attitude towards the use of the internet to find medical information compared to nurses who were not exposed to social media (t119=3.04, P=.003). The attitudes of nurses towards the utility of online medical information for personal needs increased with better participant health status (F2,118=3.63, P=.03). However, the attitudes of participants with a chronic disease did not differ from those of healthy participants. Conclusions Nurses in Israel are less likely to use their professional skills and knowledge to search in professional databases for evidence-based medical information for their personal needs. Instead, they prefer medical information that is easy to access and not evidence-based, such as that on social media and TV. However, these search patterns for personal use may affect their clinical role, impair quality of care, and lead to incorrect medical decisions for their patients in the health care system. Therefore, during nursing education, training for searching skills, retrieval skills, and online search techniques for evidence-based medical information is vital for evidence-based practice.

INDIVIDUALS’ BEHAVIOR TOWARDS INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA MEDICAL INFORMATION IN DAMMAM AND KHOBAR PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTERS

2021 ◽  
pp. 12-16
Author(s):  
Dania Alshiha ◽  
Mashael Alghamdi ◽  
Abeer Aldakhil
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Primary Health Care Centers ◽  
Health Care Centers ◽  
Internet And Social Media

Nowadays, internet and social media are being used widely. They affect individuals who seek medical information, as a result, inaccurate information lead individuals to misdiagnose themselves and change their treatment plan. The purpose of this study is to determine the behavior of individuals regarding using internet and social media to obtain medical information, sociodemographic factors and reasons for seeking medical information. This study employed a cross-sectional analytical design in primary health care centers in Dammam and Khobar cities. A total of 439 participants were invited to complete a structured, self-administered questionnaire. The results of the study revealed that 87.7% used internet and social media to obtain medical information. The most common reason for searching was symptoms participants had 42.9%. Eighty ve percent were inuenced and 15% were rarely inuenced by the information obtained. More than half of individuals had a positive behavioral change. Majority of individuals had veried the information they obtained, mostly with a physician 83.6%.

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

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 107327481984144 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Health-Seeking Influence Reflected by Online Health-Related Messages Received on Social Media: Cross-Sectional Survey (Preprint)

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahila Iftikhar ◽  
Bahaa Abaalkhail
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related

BACKGROUND Major social networking platforms, such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter, have become popular means through which people share health-related information, irrespective of whether messages disseminated through these channels are authentic. OBJECTIVE This study aims to describe the demographic characteristics of patients that may demonstrate their attitudes toward medical information shared on social media networks. Second, we address how information found through social media affects the way people deal with their health. Third, we examine whether patients initiate or alter/discontinue their medications based on information derived from social media. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey between April and June 2015 on patients attending outpatient clinics at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Patients who used social media (Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter) were included. We designed a questionnaire with closed-ended and multiple-choice questions to assess the type of social media platforms patients used and whether information received on these platforms influenced their health care decisions. We used chi-square test to establish the relationship between categorical variables. RESULTS Of the 442 patients who filled in the questionnaires, 401 used Facebook, WhatsApp, or Twitter. The majority of respondents (89.8%, 397/442) used WhatsApp, followed by Facebook (58.6%, 259/442) and Twitter (42.3%, 187/442). In most cases, respondents received health-related messages from WhatsApp and approximately 42.6% (171/401) reported ever stopping treatment as advised on a social media platform. A significantly higher proportion of patients without heart disease (P=.001) and obese persons (P=.01) checked the authenticity of information received on social media. Social media messages influenced decision making among patients without heart disease (P=.04). Respondents without heart disease (P=.001) and obese persons (P=.01) were more likely to discuss health-related information received on social media channels with a health care professional. A significant proportion of WhatsApp users reported that health-related information received on this platform influenced decisions regarding their family’s health care (P=.001). Respondents’ decisions regarding family health care were more likely to be influenced when they used two or all three types of platforms (P=.003). CONCLUSIONS Health education in the digital era needs to be accurate, evidence-based, and regulated. As technologies continue to evolve, we must be equipped to face the challenges it brings with it.

COPD360social Online Community: A Social Media Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Stellefson ◽  
Samantha R. Paige ◽  
Julia M. Alber ◽  
Margaret Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Media Review

People living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) commonly report feelings of loneliness and social isolation due to lack of support from family, friends, and health care providers. COPD360social is an interactive and disease-specific online community and social network dedicated to connecting people living with COPD to evidence-based resources. Through free access to collaborative forums, members can explore, engage, and discuss an array of disease-related topics, such as symptom management. This social media review provides an overview of COPD360social, specifically its features that practitioners can leverage to facilitate patient–provider communication, knowledge translation, and community building. The potential of COPD360social for chronic disease self-management is maximized through community recognition programming and interactive friend-finding tools that encourage members to share their own stories through blogs and multimedia (e.g., images, videos). The platform also fosters collaborative knowledge dissemination and helping relationships among patients, family members, friends, and health care providers. Successful implementation of COPD360social has dramatically expanded patient education and self-management support resources for people affected by COPD. Practitioners should refer patients and their families to online social networks such as COPD360social to increase knowledge and awareness of evidence-based chronic disease management practices.

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

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.

INNV-30. USE OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS AND MULTIMEDIA APPROACHES TO DEVELOP AND DISSEMINATE SYMPTOM AND DISEASE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR RARE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) TUMOR PATIENTS

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi112-vi112
Author(s):  
Molly Maher ◽  
Kristin Odom ◽  
Alvina Acquaye ◽  
Orieta Celiku ◽  
Brittany Cordeiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Health Communication ◽  
Multidisciplinary Team ◽  
Symptom Management ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Tumor Patients

Abstract BACKGROUND Primary CNS tumors represent less than 2% of all cancers, with the majority of patients receiving care outside of specialty centers. Patients are highly symptomatic while trying to navigate care for their rare disease and evidence-based tumor and symptom education is limited. Our primary objective was to create and disseminate patient-centered content utilizing multidisciplinary teams and health communication to improve access to content. METHODS The multidisciplinary team of neuro-oncology scientists and health care providers developed content from evidence-based sources. The team partnered with communication specialists to ensure health literacy and established outreach strategies for use on social media, e-newsletters, and web- and app-based programs. Web analytic tools assessed outreach and efficacy. RESULTS Educational content for 12 rare tumors and 6 self-care topics was created using evidence-based sources and multidisciplinary team review. Content was published on the National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Oncology Network Evaluating Rare CNS Tumors (NCI-CONNECT) website and disseminated via multimedia platforms, including e-newsletters and social media (private Facebook group and Twitter). Since launching the website in September 2018, visits have increased 2,384%. The content was also shared directly to 6,156 newsletter subscribers, 4,897 Twitter followers with greater than 1 million impressions per year, 407 Facebook members, 9 non-profit advocacy partners, and thousands of attendees at more than 10 patient-focused neuro-oncology events. This outreach approach is now being replicated for symptom management content on the NCI-CONNECT website and a symptom tracking and self-care mobile application launching in 2021. CONCLUSIONS By marrying patient-centered health communication, education, and outreach, our team successfully created highly sought content that reflects the unique needs of CNS tumor patients and their families. This material can educate neuro-oncology patients on their specific tumor, promote self-care, facilitate symptom management, and empower families to advocate for their unique needs, reaching outside traditional health care systems.

Health care workers in Africa access a broad range of topics using evidence-based online medical information

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 823-839 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret L. McNairy ◽  
Alysse G Wurcel ◽  
Franklin Huang ◽  
Johanna P. Daily
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Care Workers

scholarly journals COVID-19 pandemic: An era of myths and misleading advertisements

2021 ◽  
pp. 174113432098832
Author(s):  
Tarif Hussian ◽  
Manjusha Choudhary ◽  
Vikas Budhwar ◽  
Garima Saini
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Social Attitudes ◽  
Health Economy ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
False Information ◽  
Central Importance ◽  
Regulatory Bodies

COVID-19 pandemic has shattered the global health economy. Advertisers take advantage of fear and emotions in society due to the pandemic outbreak. Rumors spread rapidly through digital media are another form of misinformation. False claims advertising is a combination of misinformation and disinformation that is fatal and moral deterioration to global society. True information is of central importance in society to avoid false information during the pandemic to control unexpected damage. Without scientific and evidence-based information about all kinds of products and services through advertisements on social media people often use to shift social attitudes. Society always relies on national and harmonious international regulatory bodies during any kind of epidemic and disaster credibility for true information. In most of the Countries, false advertisements are illegal. Countries need to continuously introduce a strict regulatory framework with the Suo Motu surveillance system to breach false advertisements on all media platforms about health care products and services.

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

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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