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

Abstract

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 health information, telemedicine, finding a health care provider, peer support and sharing experiences, and influencing positive health behavior. In addition, two more sections were added to the review: issues pertaining to social media use in health care and ethical considerations. 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.

The Current Status of Telemedicine Technology Use Across the World Health Organization European Region: An Overview of Systematic Reviews

“…Patients’ age was also considered a potential facilitator, especially among younger individuals [ 90 ]. Frequent and multimodal communication between health care professionals and patients, as well as patients sharing their experiences, might reduce the aforementioned difficulties [ 91 , 92 ].…”

The Contributions of Pandemic Severity, Government Stringency, Cultural Values and Internet Usage to Post-traumatic Stress Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of Data From 35 Countries

“…Though a negative association between Internet usage and PTSD symptoms was observed in this analysis, this finding was just below the threshold for statistical significance. While certain aspects of Internet usage, such as consumption of pandemic-related media (“doomscrolling”) have been associated with PTSD (Price et al, 2022 ), the Internet may also be used for social connection, communication of vital information, purchase of essentials and even healthcare (“telemedicine”) during periods of confinement or isolation (Farsi et al, 2022 ). The role of the Internet in shaping positive or negative psychological responses to COVID-19 is complex, and requires further elucidation along multiple vectors in diverse populations.…”

Policy on the Use of Social Media in Hospitals in Building Communication During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Literature Review

“…(5) Another study in 2013 found that the first motive for patients to use health-related social media is to seek information about health, disease, or treatment of disease; Twitter is the most used platform for this information. (3) In recent years, health services have been delivered remotely through telemedicine applications, the best access to care for some people, such as those who are isolated or in rural areas. This method is not only efficient but also saves time and money.…”

“…Most patients were encouraged to have clinical examinations. (3) The study by Gebbia (2021) showed that the instant messaging system (WhatsApp) in cancer care facilitates improved communication and support between patients, nurses, and doctors, and consequently, better patient care. These benefits are particularly useful in rural areas and low-and middle-income countries to overcome some economic and distance barriers to care.…”

“…Thousands of people petitioned, and the doctor endured several professional and personal consequences but was not fired. (3) Some studies show that the number of privacy and confidentiality breaches committed by health professionals who use social media tends to be low. As investigated by Thompson et al at the University of Florida, out of more than 1000 physician profiles evaluated, only 12 ethical violations were found, which accounted for less than 2% of physician profiles.…”