Health Professionals Using Social Media: Prescribing Disaster?

Social media, for better or for worse, has been ingrained into our culture. People are spending more and more time on websites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google+. For many people, it is a daily indulgence, which means it has an effect on their behavior – whether they want to believe it or not.

Social Media and Health Care: An Unlikely Combination

What does this mean for the healthcare industry? That’s an interesting question that certainly deserves our attention.

Social media, by nature, is…social. Health care is rarely something we talk about outside our immediate family. Understandably, a Throwback Thursday picture is appropriate for Facebook. But what about the diagnosis your doctor just gave you regarding that rash…

In reality, health care is far more social than we would imagine. It actually plays a tremendous role in shaping how people look at their health. It’s important for you to understand this role. Once you do, you can take a proactive approach when it comes to dealing with social media’s impact on health.

Much of the research needed to get a better understanding of this subject has already been done for us. Let’s take a look at some relevant information that will give us more insight into the ways in which social media is changing people’s relationships with healthcare.

People Use Social Media To Find Advice on Health

It’s not uncommon for an individual to post their symptoms on Facebook or Twitter in an effort to find a diagnosis. What’s even more astounding is that the poster usually trusts the answers her or she receives. In fact, according to a recent study, 90% of participants in the 18-24 age range said they would trust medical information they received via social media.

If you are a social media user, looking for answers about your health online, take the advice with a grain of salt. Your online friends can definitely share information from their own experiences that may help, but they aren’t medical professionals.

If you are a doctor or health blogger, join the conversation. People want answers, so provide them!

Share valuable information that can help people. Post about new scientific breakthroughs and medications. On Twitter, you can even search for symptoms and reply to individuals that are seeking advice. Of course, it’s important to remind them that no one, not even a doctor, can properly diagnosis a patient over the internet.

Social Media Influences Where Patients Seek Treatment

People will often ask open questions on social media to see what people think about certain treatment centers. They’ll even search to see what unsolicited reviews people have posted. Not only do they ask these questions, they take the answers to heart. Just over 40% of study participants said social media would affect their choice when selecting a health care provider.

It’s important that you keep your social media followers and fans engaged. The more positive online interactions they have, the more likely they will be to give a good review to their friends.

YouTube Traffic to Hospital Sites is Increasing

One of the best ways to convert internet traffic is through the use of a video. Nothing else comes close to the way it engages people. Not to mention the ease in which you can communicate an idea over video.

People respond to so much more than just words. They respond to vocal inflections, facial expressions and body language. A video will always communicate an idea better than a 140-character tweet.

Want proof? 20% of parents (and 12% of non-parents) use YouTube to find medical answers online. Additionally, research has found visits to hospital YouTube channels have increased 119%.

Adults Are Sharing Their Health Information on Social Media

Approximately one-third of adults are willing to share information about their health conditions with other patients on social media (source).

This is great news. Social media is making it more common for people to be open and honest about the state of their health. Many people feel comfortable speaking to their physician and providing vital information over social media sites. This allows for quicker and more accurate health assessments.

People Are Using Health Apps

Whether it’s an app to track their mileage when they run, give diet advice, or offer weight loss tips, health apps are becoming very popular. Nearly 20% of respondents in a recent questionnaire said they had at least one health app on their phone.

What does this mean for you? Creating your own health app can give you a chance to put your name in front of a new audience and help you to establish your expertise in the field.

Use Social Media to Your Advantage

Social media is here to stay. It’s obvious that people love social media, and it’s having an impact on all areas of their life. This includes their relationship to the healthcare industry and their relations to health in general.

If you are a health blogger, physician or just passionate about health, jump on the bandwagon!

Are you a fan of mixing social media and health care? Have you ever gone online for health advice? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below.

Susie Graham is a health and fitness blogger. She helps run this site about vitamin B12 injections. As a member of the health community, Susie is intrigued by the relationship between health and social media. She first dabbled in SMM as a way to spread the word about her vitamin B12 injections. Now, she is truly mesmerized by the active involvement of patients.