Social media and the practice of pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation in the COVID-19 pandemic: A new era in patient-care

Abstract

Social media represents a significant source of health information for the public, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic where gatherings are limited. It is important for pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians to understand how their patients use these platforms in order to educate the public and provide sound medical advice on social media. Given the lack of current guidelines on medical education through social media, the purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of various online social media platforms and describe how they can be utilized to enhance pediatric patient education. It is necessary to understand the different educational functions and limitations of the various social media platforms. This text provides a comprehensive overview of different social media platforms, their educational uses, limitations, and sample accounts. Relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic, social media can improve the efficiency of educational delivery and clinic workflow. Although social media is not meant to replace physician-patient relationships, it can be used as a surrogate for health information and improve— even start— physician-patient relationships. Despite the benefits of social media, pediatric physiatrists may be hesitant to utilize these platforms for several reasons. This text provides an overview of common barriers to social media usage by physicians and recommendations to overcome them. Given that the pandemic has led to increased social media usage, physicians should be aware of its implications on patient care and how they can be used to enhance the practice of pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation. As social media usage by both patients and physicians grows, more research is needed to create recommendations on how pediatric physiatrists can best utilize social media to educate the public in an enjoyable manner while maintaining a professional image.

A Comprehensive Assessment of Cleft Lip and Palate Websites and Patient Education Information

“…15 This may reflect increasing demand and Internet usage over time. [6][7][8][9] This study found that the majority of centers (79.7%) were updated in the year of 2022. The remaining websites were updated recently, with the latest date listed as 2019.…”

“…Social media has grown to be a significant outlet for patient education, particularly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 36 Social media is used by nearly 90% of adolescents 8 and its use among United States adults has tripled from 20% to 70% between 2008-2016. 37 This platform of learning can enhance the patient-provider relationship.…”

“…6,7 This has been further impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, where social media and Internet search engines have been further utilized to seek health information. 8,9 Pediatric craniofacial anomalies are deformities that affect head and facial bones. 10 Cleft lip and palate occurs in nearly 1 in 600 live births.…”

“…6,7 This has been further impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, where social media and Internet search engines have been further utilized to seek health information. 8,9…”

Cross-Sectional Content Evaluation of Spinal Cord Injury Medicine Fellowship Websites

“…When deciding on a program, applicants often consider several key factors, such as curriculum, rotations, compensation, benefits, and research opportunities, typically available on a program's website [1][2][3]. The importance of website information was further emphasized during the pandemic, as many applicants relied upon online resources to guide their decision while face-to-face consultation was limited [4]. As more applicants begin to rely upon program websites for information, the concern becomes whether such websites contain the appropriate amount and types of information for applicants to make an informed decision.…”