Influence of Social Media on Physicians' Behaviors

Ibtihal Agoulmam1; Abdellatif Chakor

doi:10.18535/ijsrm/v12i04.sh03

Abstract

The influence of social media on health-related behaviors is a major research topic. Social media platforms play a crucial role in disseminating health information, thus influencing individuals' perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors towards health and healthcare. These platforms allow quick access to a large amount of information but can also convey inaccurate or misleading information. Social media also enables individuals to share their personal health experiences, which can influence the behavior of other users. Health awareness and promotion campaigns conducted on social media can have a significant impact by reaching a wide audience. Additionally, social media platforms have become popular spaces for healthcare professionals and healthcare organizations to interact with patients, answer their questions, and provide medical advice. However, excessive use of social media can also have negative effects on mental health, including contributing to anxiety, depression, and social isolation. It is therefore crucial to understand how social media shapes health-related behaviors in order to promote healthy behaviors and counter misinformation.

Keywords

Social mediaPhysiciansHealth behaviorsProfessional conductPatient careMedical practiceHealth communicationHealth promotion

References

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Ventola, C. L. (2014). Social media and health care professionals: Benefits, risks, and best practices. P & T : a peer-reviewed journal for formulary management, 39(7), 491-520.Google Scholar ↗
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Wald, H. S., Dube, C. E., & Anthony, D. C. (2007). Untangling the Web--the impact of Internet use on health care and the physician-patient relationship. Patient Education and Counseling, 68(3), 218-224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2007.05.016.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
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[refR-1] Amgad, M., & AlFaar, A. S. (2014). Integrating web 2.0 in clinical research education in a developing country. Journal of Cancer Education, 29(3), 536-540. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-013-0595-5.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-2] Bosslet, G. T., Torke, A. M., Hickman, S. E., Terry, C. L., & Helft, P. R. (2011). The patient-doctor relationship and online social networks: results of a national survey. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 26(10), 1168-1174. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-011-1761-2.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-3] Brand, J. C., Rossi, M. J., & Lubowitz, J. H. (2022). Internet and Social Media Contribute to Medical Research Journal Growth. Arthroscopy, 38(7), 2111-2114. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.arthro.2022.04.017.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-4] Brown, J., Ryan, C., & Harris, A. (2014). How doctors view and use social media: a national survey. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 16(12). https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.3589.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-5] Cartledge, P., Miller, M., & Phillips, B. (2013). The use of social-networking sites in medical education. Medical Teacher, 35(10), 847-857. https://doi.org/10.3109/0142159X.2013.804909.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-6] Fatollahi, J. J., Colbert, J. A., Agarwal, P., Lee, J. L., Lehmann, E. Y., Yuan, N., Lehmann, L. S., & Chretien, K. C. (2020). The impact of physician social media behavior on patient trust. AJOB Empirical Bioethics, 11(2), 77-82. https://doi.org/10.1080/23294515.2019.1678533DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-7] Finch, T. (2004). Marketing your medical practice with an effective web presence. Journal of Medical Practice Management, 20(3), 143-147.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-8] Forgie, E. M. E., Lai, H., Cao, B., Stroulia, E., Greenshaw, A. J., & Goez, H. (2021). Social Media and the Transformation of the Physician-Patient Relationship: Viewpoint. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(12). https://doi.org/10.2196/25230.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-9] George, D. R. (2011). "Friending Facebook?" A minicourse on the use of social media by health professionals. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 31(3), 215-219. https://doi.org/10.1002/chp.20129.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-10] Greysen, S. R., Kind, T., & Chretien, K. C. (2010). Online professionalism and the mirror of social media. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 25(11), 1227-1229. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-010-1447-1.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-11] Grindrod, K., Forgione, A., Tsuyuki, R. T., Gavura, S., & Giustini, D. (2014). Pharmacy 2.0: A scoping review of social media use in pharmacy. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 10(1), 256-270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2013.05.004DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-12] Guseh, J. S. 2nd, Brendel, R. W., & Brendel, D. H. (2009). Medical professionalism in the age of online social networking. Journal of Medical Ethics, 35(9), 584-586. https://doi.org/10.1136/jme.2009.029231.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-13] Hartley, R. (2016). Opening the door to patient retention: A look at new technology trends. Journal of Medical Practice Management, 31(4), 212-215.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-14] Jain, S. H. (2009). Practicing medicine in the age of Facebook. New England Journal of Medicine, 361(7), 649-651. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp0901277.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-15] Lifchez, S. D., McKee, D. M., Raven, R. B. III, Shafritz, A. B., & Tueting, J. L. (2012). Guidelines for ethical and professional use of social media in a hand surgery practice. Journal of Hand Surgery (American Volume), 37(12), 2636-2641.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-16] Lombardi, G., & Baum, N. (2011). Health 2.0: how interactive Web sites are changing the healthcare industry. Journal of Medical Practice Management, 26(4), 242-244.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-17] Martin, A., Grundin, E., Harrison, D., & Espinoza, J. (2012). Marketing your practice in a social world. Journal of Medical Practice Management, 27(4), 227-229.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-18] McKinley, D. W., & Ghaffarifar, S. (2021). The necessity of examining patients’ social behavior and teaching behavior change theories: Curricular innovations induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Medical Education, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02582-2DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-19] Nguyen, B.-M., Lu, E., Bhuyan, N., Lin, K., & Sevilla, M. (2020). Social media for doctors: Taking professional and patient engagement to the next level. Family Practice Management, 27(1), 19-24.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-20] Peck, J. L. (2014). Social media in nursing education: responsible integration for meaningful use. Journal of Nursing Education, 19, 1–6.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-21] Romano, R., & Baum, N. (2014). How pediatric surgeons use social media to attract new patients. European Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 24(4), 313-316. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1386648.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-22] Rothschild, M. A. (2002). Marketing your practice on the Internet. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America, 35(6), 1149-1161. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0030-6665(02)00083-x.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-23] Sterling, M., Leung, P., Wright, D., & Bishop, T. F. (2017). The Use of Social Media in Graduate Medical Education: A Systematic Review. Academic Medicine, 92(7), 1043-1056. https://doi.org/ 10.1097/ACM.0000000000001617.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-24] Thaker, S. I., Nowacki, A. S., Mehta, N. B., & Edwards, A. R. (2011). How U.S. hospitals use social media. Annals of Internal Medicine, 154(10), 707-708. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-154-10-201105170-00021.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-25] Twiddy, D. (2014). Social media: Strategies for building greater connections with your patients. Family Practice Management, 21(4), 7-12.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-26] Ventola, C. L. (2014). Social media and health care professionals: Benefits, risks, and best practices. P & T : a peer-reviewed journal for formulary management, 39(7), 491-520.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-27] Von Muhlen, M., & Ohno-Machado, L. (2012). Reviewing social media use by clinicians. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 19(5), 777–781.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-28] Wald, H. S., Dube, C. E., & Anthony, D. C. (2007). Untangling the Web--the impact of Internet use on health care and the physician-patient relationship. Patient Education and Counseling, 68(3), 218-224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2007.05.016.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-29] Whyte, W., & Hennessy, C. (2017). Social Media use within medical education: A systematic review to develop a pilot questionnaire on how social media can be best used at BSMS. MedEdPublish, 6. https://doi.org/10.15694/mep.2017.000083.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-30] Zahaluk, D., & Baum, N. (2012). Marketing metrics for medical practices. Journal of Medical Practice Management, 27(6), 390-392.Google Scholar ↗