OSNPPH Nutrition Exchange Using Social Media in Public Health

1. OSNPPH Nutrition ExchangeUsing Social Media in Public Health June 2, 2011 Deborah Cohen, MHSc, RD Professional Practice Advisor & Policy Analyst

2. Presentation Outline • Introduction – What is Social Media? • Main Players in Social Media • OSNPPH Social Media Survey Results • Utility of Social Media • Professional Responsibilities for RDs • Examples of Social Media • Questions

3. What is Social Media? • Web-based and mobile technologies that shift communication into interactive dialogue • Instantly and easily switch from audience author

4. Find others to talk about interests and commonalities CONNECT

5. Today’s Mindset “Give me information to make informed decisions” • Online communities in real-time • Talk with me not at me

6. Source: Statistics Canada . (2010). Retrieved from: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/100510/t100510a2-eng.htm

8. Main Players in Social Media PROFESSIONAL PAGE • 500+ million active users • Canada: 55% of popn = 18.5 million (rank: 10th) • 50% log on daily • Average user: 130 friends, connected to80 community pages, groups and events • 700 billion minutes/month

9. Main Players in Social Media • 200 million users globally • 65 million “tweets” per day • Canada: 18% of popn, ~6 million users (rank: 6th) • In real-time • Potential to reach many

10. Main Players in Social Media • Upload, share, view and comment on videos • Nov 2010: 24 hours of new content posted/min • “Channels” to post videos relating to topics • “Viral” videos

11. Main Players in Social Media • Information, opinions and comments • Text, video, audio, and links • Chronological • Readers can comment and ask questions

12. Main Players in Social Media • Web feeds that notify subscribers of updated works (e.g., blogs, news articles, etc.) • Fed into news reader or email RSS Feeds

13. Main Players in Social Media Subscribe

14. OSNPPH Social Media Survey Results 56% of health units use social media WHY NOT?

15. Health Unit Social Media Info • Smoking cessation • Program promotion, class schedules, events • Healthy living/eating tips • Parenting info • Flu clinic update • Video clips (how to make baby food) • Discussion forums • Youth initiatives (e.g., alcohol awareness, sexual health)

16. OSNPPH Social Media Survey Results 12% RDs specifically using social media as part of dietetic practice

17. Individual RDs Using Social Media In public health units: • Latest nutrition topics/tips • Events • News articles • Nutrition programming

18. OSNPPH Social Media Survey Results 43% will use social media in future 50% unsure 58% feel social media valuable 30% unsure

19. OSNPPH Social Media Survey Results Social media to enhance RD practice via: • Blogs • Ask an RD section • Facebook • Twitter • YouTube videos • Healthy eating and public health campaigns

20. What You Want to Learn • How social media works? • Protecting privacy & confidentiality • Liability issues • Appropriateness of use/messaging • Examples

21. Utility of Social Media • REACH – Broad or targeted • ACCESSSIBILITY – All or some • USABILITY– Easily by all • IMMEDIACY – In real time • PERMANENCE – Archived copies

22. Utility of Social Media • Clients are not where you would have found them 3 years ago • Find where to reach people:

23. Utility of Social Media • No single right way to use social media • Be Deliberate • Set out a Social Media Plan • Organizational Readiness • Develop a Social Media Policy

24. GM’s Blogger Policy

25. Utility of Social Media • You may make mistakes – Learn from them! • Be present – stay current • Listen to your audience – embrace the culture of generosity • Stay committed

26. Professional Responsibilities • Tell them who you are: RD, contact info, ON registration • Be transparent – What are you trying to do? • Respect of Others – Comments will be moderated • Cautions – Info does not replace medical advice • Funding – Disclose any funding sources & COI Continued...

27. Professional Responsibilities • Privacy – Protect privacy of users where able • Professionalism – Maintain boundaries • Evidence-Based – Evidence-based practice • Appropriateness – Set limits, use appropriate language • Liability – RDs are accountable for online info

28. EXAMPLES

29. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Ottawa-Public-Health/131015656935062http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Ottawa-Public-Health/131015656935062

30. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/torontopublichealth

31. http://twitter.com/#!/EatRightOntario

32. Social Media Examples www.hereonfood.ca

33. http://www.weightymatters.ca/

34. www.skepticnorth.com

35. Social media campaigns don’t happen overnight • Learn as you go and learn from others • Start small • Progress/expand as needed

36. Have an Online Presence

37. Upcoming CDO Resources • College will be developing standards/guidelines for RDs when using social media

38. Questions?

39. Thank You Please don’t hesitate to contact me: Deborah Cohen, MHSc, RD Professional Practice Advisor & Policy Analyst 416-598-1725 ext 225 or 1-800-668-4990 cohend@cdo.on.ca www.cdo.on.ca