What is the impact of the internet and social media on healthcare?

1. What is the impact of the internet and social media on healthcare? Muratova Aida 11 C

2. Introduction This research project will explore the effect of the internet and social media on healthcare. The research will include the advantages and disadvantages of the internet as a health service resource. My project will use the USA as examples of how people use the internet and social networks to obtain health information.

3. USA • Over 160 million Americans access the internet for health information. Among Internet users, 5% participated in an online support group, 7% reported blogging, and 23% used a social networking site.

4. Provide answers to medical questions Provide health information on a range of conditions Collect data on patient experiences and opinions Usage of health social media Professional online consultation Health intervention, health promotion or education Facilitating dialogue between patients, or between patients and health professionals

5. Benefits • Increases interactions with others • More available, shared and tailored information • Increase accessibility and widening access • Peer/social/emotional support • Public health surveillance • Potential to influence health policy

6. Disadvantages • Lack of reliability • Quality concerns • Lack of confidentiality and privacy • Often unaware of the risks of disclosing personal information online • Risks associated with communicating harmful or incorrect advice • Information overload • Not sure how to correctly apply information found online to their personal health situation • Adverse health consequences • Social media may act as a deterrent for patients from visiting health professionals • Currently health professionals may not often use social media to communicate to patients

7. 60 Million Americans exchanged their medical experiences online with each other last year. • Almost 72 % of patients searched for online information before or after a doctor visit. • 890 hospitals in the US used social media to engage with their patients • More than 40% of consumers say that information found by social media affects the way they deal with their health • 41% of people said social media would affect their choice of a specific doctor, hospital, or medical facility.

8. https://batchgeo.com/map/hcsm

9. Conclusion • Social media use is increasing, and unlikely to disappear.  It is clear from this research that both patients, the general public and health professionals are already involving in social media for health communication.  It is important to appreciate that social media can be a powerful communication tool if used to not just inform, but engage with others. 

10. Evaluation • Finding resources was not difficult for this research • I could not finish in time, but it has reasons • It was easy to find advantages and disadvantages • It was not hard to work with PPT format

11. Bibliography • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2802563/ • http://www.thelifestyleelf.net/social-media-in-health-care-benefits-harms-and-the-need-for-good-quality-evidence/ • http://www.slideshare.net/sdorfman/internet-impact-on-health-sdorfman-dha?utm_source=slideshow02&utm_medium=ssemail&utm_campaign=share_slideshow • http://fe01.pewinternet.org/Presentations/2014/Jan/Families-USA.aspx • https://batchgeo.com/map/hcsm • http://ebennett.org/?s=graphs • http://getreferralmd.com/2013/09/healthcare-social-media-statistics/