JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

People are now connected in a borderless online world. The modern public, especially the younger generation, are heavily relying on the internet as the main source for health-related information. Patients in particular can use social media (SM) for more tailored uses as telemedicine, finding a provider, and for support.

Objective:

The aim of this review is to identify how SM has been utilized in the health care industry from the patients’ perspective.

Methods:

Between March and June 2020 a review of the literature was conducted on PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science and MEDLINE for English medical studies that were published since 2007 and discussed SM use in healthcare. Only English publications that discussed SM utilization by patients were included, as well as publications pertaining to ethical and legal considerations in SM use.

Results:

A total of 89 studies were included, complemented by 1 textbook chapter and 12 web references. SM uses were best categorized as “Health Information”, “Telemedicine”, “Finding a health care provider (HCP)”, “Peer Support and Sharing Experiences” and “Influencing Positive Health Behavior”. Two additional sections were added to the review: “Issues Pertaining to SM Use in Health Care” and “Ethical Considerations”.

Conclusions:

SM can be utilized by the public and patients to improve their health and knowledge. However, due diligence must be practiced in assessing the credibility of the information obtained and its source. HCPs, patients, and the public need not forget risks associated with SM use. The limitations and shortcomings of using SM by patients should be understood.