Social media use by patients in health care: A scoping review

Purpose The purpose of the study is to understand the use of social media by patients for health-related purposes.Methods A scoping review of 53 studies have been made to derive the findings.Data Sources Article have been obtained from three data sources i.e. PubMed, Google Scalar, and J Store, which are published during the period 2009-2019. Fifty – three articles are selected after the screening of abstracts, titles, and full text of 2165 publications.Results The study of the literature found that: (i) Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs, and online health communities are popular among patients for seeking and sharing information. Health-related social media platforms such as PatientsLikeMe, Netwellness and MDTalks are also in use by patients. (ii) Patients use social media for seeking information about a disease and its treatment, searching experience of other patients, looking for a support group, seeking emotional support, sharing personal health stories, sharing information about medicines/instruments, seeking and posting reviews and looking for side effects of medicines.Conclusion Social media provides a connecting link to the public, patients, and health professionals to communicate about health issues. The possibility and potential of improving health have considerably enhanced.