This document discusses the use of the internet and social media by healthcare consumers and professionals. It describes how consumers access online health information by searching, participating in support groups, and consulting with professionals. Social media allows for the exchange of user-generated health content. While social media provides benefits like increased knowledge and social support, it also poses privacy and reliability risks. The role of informatics nurses is to evaluate websites, assist with evaluating health information quality, and introduce patients to social media to increase access to health resources.

1. Use of Internet & Social
Media by Healthcare
Consumers and
Professionals
By Yasmin Youssefi

2. Objectives
❖ Objectives:
❖ 1. Describe the characteristics of online consumers.
❖ 2. Discuss the benefits and risks of social media.
❖ 3. Examine the implications of the internet and social media on
the health consumers.
❖ 4. Identify ethical issues related to the use of internet and social
media.
❖ 5. Analyze the role of INS in the use of internet and social media.

3. Characteristics of Online
Consumers
❖ Consumers engage in interactive health communication.
❖ Interactive health communication = “the interaction of
an individual—consumer, patient, caregiver or
professional—with or through an electronic device or
communication technology to access or transmit
health information or to receive guidance and support
on a health-related issue”(Clines & Haynes, 2001)

4. Characteristics of Online
Consumers
❖ Consumers access online health information in three primary ways:
❖ 1. Searching directly for health information
❖ 2. Participating in support groups
❖ 3. Consulting with health professionals
❖ Consumers can access this information through Social Media
❖ Social media can be defined as ‘‘a group of Internet-based
applications that allow the creation and exchange of user
generated content’’ (Antheunis, Tates, Nieboer, 2013, p. 426)
❖ Examples of social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

6. Benefits of Social Media
❖ Benefits:
❖ Increase knowledge
❖ Efficiency in doctor–patient communication
❖ Social support by participating in online support groups
❖ Exchange advice with others going through similar situations
❖ Improve self-care

7. Risk of Social Media
❖ Risks:
❖ Privacy
❖ Unreliability of health information

9. Implications of the Internet and Social Media on
Healthcare Consumers
❖ Example of Social Media Use:
❖ a two-hour twitter event on menstrual disorders produced more than 220 questions and replies
❖ involved in discussions were online consumers & medical doctors
❖ 58% of those involved were general practitioners
❖ “Since it is shown that a growing percentage of patients use social media for health-related reasons,
health professionals will have to reflect on the alleged beneficial effects and the potential harmful
effects of social media use in health care. Thus, as concluded by Thompson et al. [25]: ‘‘physicians
have to realize that our patients are doing it, so this is where we need to be’’ (Antheunis, Tates,
Nieboer, 2013, p. 431)

10. Ethical Issues
❖ Preserving patient privacy and
confidentiality
❖ Patient’s consent may be an issue to
consider in regards to social media
❖ Healthcare providers need to be careful
when posting data to social media
❖ Need to remove any information that
could potentially identify a patient
❖ Can be difficult

11. The Role of the Informatics Nurse Specialist in the Use
of the Internet & Social Media
❖ The internet and social media allow the INS the
opportunity to connect with healthcare consumers online
and to increase their access to health information

12. Role of INS
❖ Evaluate websites for quality
and reliability
❖ Need to assist patients and their
families in evaluating the the
quality of Web resources
(Hughes)
❖ Promote and participate in
Telehealth
❖ Introduce patients to different
types of social media

13. References
❖ Antheunis,M. Tates,K., Nieboer,T. (2013). Patients' and health
professionals' use of social media in healthcare: Motives, barriers and
expectations . Original Research article. Patient Education and
Counseling, 92(3), 426.
❖ Cline, R. J., & Haynes, K. M. (2001). Consumer health information
seeking on the Internet: The state of the art. Oxford Journals.
Retrieved February 17, 2016, from
https://her.oxfordjournals.org/content/16/6/671.full.
❖ Hughes, C. K. (n.d.). Informatics and Technology in Professional
Nursing Practice. Retrieved February 17, 2016, from
http://samples.jbpub.com/9781449691509/81982_CH14_Pass1.pdf