How Friending your Doctor Changes the Doctor-Patient Relationship

Marcia W. DiStaso, Ph.D.Chelsea Amaral Pennsylvania State University

In a world where almost everyone is online and can easily find and provide medical solace, is it a good idea to consider social media as a reliable source of healthcare?

A 2012 study published in the Journal of Pediatrics found that only 44% of websites contained accurate facts about infant sleep

One in three American adults have gone online to figure out a medical condition according to the 2013 Pew Health Online survey

The potential for misinformation on the Internet is high

BUT

72% of online adults use social networking sites

18% of online adults use Twitter

67% of online adults use Facebook

May 2013 Pew Internet: Social Networking

Social Media Use by the Public

The most trusted resources online are those posted by doctors (60%), followed by nurses (56%), and hospitals (55%) – 2012 Pricewaterhouse Cooper Survey

35% of practicing physicians have received friend requests from patients on their personal social media network accounts and 58% of them always reject them – 2011 Journal of General Internal Medicine

The downside to doctors using social media is that sensitive subjects like physical and mental ailments can easily be revealed by the person suffering from them or the doctor treating them

Social Media Use by Doctors

Support doctors’ personal expressionEnable individual doctors to have a professional presence online

Foster collegiality and camaraderie within the profession

Provide opportunity to widely disseminate public health messages and other health communication

American Medical Association (AMA), Opinion 9.124 Adopted Nov. 2010

Benefits of Using Social Media

If physicians interact with patients on the internet, they must maintain appropriate boundaries of the patient-physician relationship in accordance with professional ethical guidelines just, as they would in any other contextTo maintain appropriate professional boundaries physicians should consider separating personal and professional content online

American Medical Association (AMA), Opinion 9.124 Adopted Nov. 2010

Considerations

So…

We wanted to further understand how patients feel about connecting with their physician on social media platforms and how this connection can change their relationship with their doctor.

Methodology

National survey of 420 adult Internet users

Conducted November 7-9, 2013

82% of respondents use social media (n=344)

Connecting

26% would connect to their Dr. on Facebook (n=108)

13% would connect to their Dr. on Twitter (n=52)

Doctor/Patient Relationships

Social media was found to have a minimal benefit

Only 6% felt that social media helps doctors to be perceived as an expert in their field

What would they do?

69% would read it (n=286)

59% would share it with others (n=301)

Who would read it?

Young Females

Who would share it?

YoungAdults

59% would change what they post when connected with their doctor

Are you Connected?

NONO

YeYess

3% are connected with their doctor on Facebook

1% are connected with their doctor on Twitter

0.5% are connected with their doctor on LinkedIn

How are they connected?

Does friending your doctor change the doctor-patient relationship?

Social media has a minimal benefit in doctor-patient relationshipsBUT

Patients will read and

share posts from their doctor

Recommendations

1.Create separate and professional social media accounts or maintain a low level of personal information

2.Provide social media policies for each account

3.Provide ValueUse a blog to provide depth to topics

shared Use social media accounts for content

curationUse gamification

Thank You

Marcia W. DiStaso, Ph.D.Chelsea Amaral Pennsylvania State University

Email: mwd10@psu.eduPhone: 814-863-9874