‘Have a voice:’ How social media can amplify physician impact
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MAUI, Hawaii – Using social media as a health care professional comes with many benefits and opportunities. But it also comes with many dilemmas and responsibilities, according to a presenter at the GUILD Conference. Specifically, in inflammatory bowel disease, studies show patients use social media to manage their disease and gather information from experts.
“The standard ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence and justice … can actually apply to social media,” David Rubin, MD, University of Chicago section chief of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition, said during his presentation. “You can use your social media platform and your expertise to increase health care access, you can use it to help people to reduce the likelihood of harm by sharing credible health information and you can also advocate on behalf of patients like many of us do.”
Rubin reported that while these platforms can help extend a physician’s reach in a positive way, various case studies have revealed they can also be destructive. In one case study, a GI accidentally “friended” a patient, which led to a lawsuit and was categorized as abuse and in violation of the do no harm tenant of medicine.
Additional case studies shared by Rubin touched on subjects such as professionalism in responding to patient’s health inquiries on a public platform, how private your privacy settings should really be and respecting the autonomy of patients and fellow physicians.
In using Twitter, Rubin reported he has harnessed the power of crowdsourcing through #MondayNightIBD management conversations, also using it as a way of advocating for different stances and patients regarding health care access.
There have also been studies of social media use linked to patient preferences. “Most patients with IBD are interested in receiving IBD information from their GI and other patient related organizations through their social media,” Rubin said. “Gastroenterologists should be aware that their patients may use social media to obtain disease education as well.” “I will end with this … know who’s following you. Check your facts. … Let social media strengthen your practice research, education or advocacy work. Have a voice.”– by Kate Burba
Reference: Rubin D. Social Media and Academia: Who, What and Why Bother. Presented at: GUILD Conference; February 16-19; Maui, Hawaii
Disclosure: Rubin reports serving as a consultant for, and/or receiving grant support from AbbVie, Abgenomics, Allergan, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Biomica, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dizal Pharmaceuticals, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Janssen, Lilly, Mahana Therapeutics, Medtronic, Merck, Napo Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Prometheus Laboratories, Shire, Takeda and Target PharmaSolutions.