Professional Experience Placement

Moorehead, Hazlett, Harrison, Carroll, Irwin and Hoving (2013) undertook a systematic review of the published literature to identify the uses, benefits and limitations of social media for health communication among the general public, patients and health professionals. The authors introduced the paper by discussing the characteristics that define social media and social networking. Social networking suggests a two-way channel that includes sharing of information between several parties, whereas social media can be a one way conduit of information transfer. The authors discuss engagement and personality traits that impact on engagement of its use. They mention that gender is a factor in that extroverted women and men are equally likely to engage, but emotional instability increases usage only for men. Age is also a factor as younger people (<30 years) are twice as likely to be using a social networking platform than older persons.The authors also outline differences in social media use for health communication in various countries.

The authors reviewed 98 papers that met their inclusion / exclusion criteria for review. From the literature the authors found that some studies reported that a disproportionate number of social media users were from lower income households; were more likely to be female; aged between 11-34 years. One study found the population accessing social media regardless of education and race / ethnicity. The authors reported that there were seven key uses of social media for health communication. These uses included provision of health information to the general public; patients and health professionals. The communication was used to provide answers to medical questions; health promotion and health intervention by providing social support and facilitate dialogues between groups. Additionally, it was noted that information could be presented in modes other than text.

Six benefits of using social media were identified.  These included increasing potential interactions that enable information to be more available, shared and tailored. It provides an opportunity to provide valuable peer, social and emotional support for the general public and patients.  Social media was also identified as having a role in health surveillance. There were twelve limitations that were identified.  The most recurring themes related to quality or lack of reliability of the health information. Information can be accessed from unidentifiable sources and security may be vulnerable to security breaches. The authors raised concerns about social media users being unaware of disclosing personal information or communicating harmful or incorrect advice. there is also the potential to overload the user and they may not be able to discern incorrect information or apply correct information to their own situation. I noticed the authors did not mention the use of health professionals using social media as a platform for sharing information in a community of practice.

A recommendation from the findings of this review included a suggestion to determine the impact of peer-to-peer support to enhance their interpersonal communication.

This community of practice for clinical supervisors supported by the SNM is innovative in using Web 2.0 technologies for enhancing health communication within the health profession. This blog supports the community of practice and the @PEPCommunity micro blog encourages social networking, as the long term goal is to develop a sustainable network of clinical supervisors who do share and exchange information. It is okay though to to be a ‘lurker’ and only receive information about clinical supervision!  If you have any comments about this recently published paper or comments about the community of practice for clinical supervisors, you are welcome to post them here. If you have not joined the group yet, you can view the micro blog by clicking on the Twitter icon on the right hand side banner of this blog.  You can join at Twitter.com. Previous posts have provided information and web links about how to set up and use your own Twitter account. I urge to go for a browse, lurk and / or join other clinical facilitators to continue to develop an online community of practice about clinical supervision.