Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Jul 6, 2021
Date Accepted: Jan 12, 2022
Date Submitted to PubMed: Jan 13, 2022
Use of social networks in the context of the dietitian’s practice in Brazil and changes during the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploratory study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Social networks have been pointed as one of the greatest means of spreading information. A large part of the population is already present on these platforms, looking up subjects such as health, nutrition, and food. To reach this audience, it may be important for dietitians to explore social networks. However, there is a gap in scientific studies on exploring the ways in which these platforms are used by dietitians in Brazil and the roles they play in the profession have not been well defined.
Objective:
To describe the roles that social networks play for dietitians' practice in Brazil and their mode of use of social networks. To identify professionals’ perceptions and opinions regarding the use of these tools, as well as changes in behavior on social networks usage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods:
A quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out, in which data was collected through an online questionnaire, submitted between October 2020 and January 2021 to dietitians registered on the Federal Council of Dietitians. All participants included in the study answered about the use of social networks in their professional context.
Results:
Use of social networks related to professional practice was reported by 264 (91.7%) of the participants. Instagram was the social network most frequently used by the professionals (85.8%). Dietitians related to use social networks (always - almost always, respectively) for sharing information about their services (39.6% - 25%), following the work of other dietitians (59.7% - 22.2%) and writing about topics related to food and nutrition (57.6% - 18.4%). The roles played by social networks in the professional context of dietitians were attracting more clients (72.7%) and keeping in touch with them (67.5%). Furthermore, 78.5% of the dietitians strongly agreed that social networks are good tools to promote their services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 74.7% of the participants noticed changes in their behavior, feelings, or beliefs regarding the use of social networks related to professional practice and 51.6% have increased the frequency of sharing information about nutrition and health in general on social networks.
Conclusions:
The main roles of social networks in the professional context of dietitians were identified as attracting clients and facilitating contact between professional and client. The modes of use reported by the professionals included sharing information about their services, following the work of professional colleagues, and writing about topics related to Nutrition. Most of them reported believing that social networks are an effective way to disseminate their services. Moreover, most professionals claimed to have noticed changes in their behaviors or beliefs regarding social media during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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