Use of Social Media in Health Care—Opportunities, Challenges, and Ethical Considerations

Busl, Katharina M.; Rubin, Michael; Tolchin, Benjamin; Larriviere, Dan; Epstein, Leon G.; Kirschen, Matthew; Taylor, Lynne

doi:10.1212/wnl.0000000000012557

Cited by 22 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Various editorials have described using SoMe for public education, patient recruitment, and disseminating research, 27 generating awareness for rare diseases, 28 and advocating for patients and policies. 2,27,29–33…”

Section: Paradigms For Social Media Engagementmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social Media in Neuro-Ophthalmology: Paradigms, Opportunities, and Strategies

Lai,

Antonio,

et al. 2023

Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology

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Background: Social media (SoMe) is an integral part of life in the 21st century. Its potential for rapid dissemination and amplification of information offers opportunities for neuroophthalmologists to have an outsized voice to share expertlevel knowledge with the public, other medical professionals, policymakers, and trainees. However, there are also potential pitfalls, because SoMe may spread incorrect or misleading information. Understanding and using SoMe enables neuro-ophthalmologists to influence and educate that would otherwise be limited by workforce shortages. Evidence Acquisition: A PubMed search for the terms "social media" AND "neuro-ophthalmology," "social media" AND "ophthalmology," and "social media" AND "neurology" was performed. Results: Seventy-two neurology articles, 70 ophthalmology articles, and 3 neuro-ophthalmology articles were analyzed. A large proportion of the articles were published in the last 3 years (2020, 2021, 2022). Most articles were analyses of SoMe content; other domains included engagement analysis such as Altmetric analysis, utilization survey, advisory opinion/commentary, literature review, and other. SoMe has been used in medicine to share and recruit for scientific research, medical education, advocacy, mentorship and medical professional networking, and branding, marketing, practice building, and influencing. The American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society have developed guidelines on the use of SoMe. Conclusions: Neuro-ophthalmologists may benefit greatly from harnessing SoMe for the purposes of academics, advocacy, networking, and marketing. Regularly creating appropriate professional SoMe content can enable the neuro-ophthalmologist to make a global impact.

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Section: Paradigms For Social Media Engagementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1 Within medicine, SoMe platforms have been used for multiple purposes, including professional applications such as networking, education, research, and patient-facing communication. 2 There are many platforms for SoMe, each offering different experiences (Table 1).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Media in Neuro-Ophthalmology: Paradigms, Opportunities, and Strategies

Lai,

Antonio,

et al. 2023

Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology

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“…Both the American Medical Association (AMA) and the AAN have developed codes of conduct for medical professionals using SoMe. 125 , 126 Similar guidelines have been created by different specialties and organizations. It is best to review your institution's SoMe policy before engaging in professional or personal SoMe use.…”

Section: Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Be in the Digital Room Where it Happens, Part I: Tweeting & Technology for Career Development

Martindale

Goldstein

Xixis

et al. 2022

Child Neurology Open

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Social media has become a part of everyday life. It has changed the way we obtain and distribute information, connect, and interact with others. As the number of platforms and users grow, medical professionals have learned the value social media can have in education, research, advocacy, and clinical care initiatives. Platforms provide opportunities to network, build collaborations, and develop a reputation. This is part one of a two-part series. This article provides an overview on how social media can benefit professional career development for clinicians and researchers, as well as for advocacy to raise awareness against biases, disparities, and for patient benefit. We review challenges, limitations, and best practices for social media use by medical professionals with neurology-specific examples.

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“…The general advice across prior literature and guidelines is to direct requests for medical advice to a secure standard messaging or email system through your practice and/or to direct them to make an appointment. 3 6 7 17 This is because offering advice online can lead to privacy and licensure issues, leaving the clinician and their practice at risk.…”

Section: Information Accuracy/misusementioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, these numerous benefits come with an equally diverse set of risks including concerns regarding patient privacy and dignity, conflicts of interest, interprofessional respect, information accuracy/misuse, and equity and justice. 1 4 5 6 7 Even online activity occurring on personal accounts can have professional implications, affecting enrollment, employment, and litigation. A growing number of organizations, professional groups, and literature are calling attention to these issues, but, in the authors' opinion, these risks are generally underdiscussed and appreciated.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%