Social networks - help or hindrance in patient care

Abstract Background/Introduction After the pandemic, there has been a significant rise in the time people dedicate to social networks. Throughout periods of local and international lockdowns, these platforms became recognized as quicker and more effective tools for communication across various fields. Purpose We aimed to conduct a study to assess the effectiveness of deploying an information system to improve the communication process between patients and healthcare specialists. Methods A questionnaire consisting of 20 questions was utilized, completed by 43 patients or their relatives admitted between January 1, 2024, and January 31, 2024 in a cardiology ward of a tertiary centre. Results Among all participants, a proportion of 65% was represented by middle-aged women from urban areas, with 68.4% holding higher education degrees and 31.6% with secondary education. A vast majority (98%) reported using at least one social network daily for both professional and personal reasons. Eighty-three percent believe that doctor-patient interactions on social networks are ethical and regard it as a secure and effective method for communicating with healthcare professionals. Feedback from social networks did not significantly influence the selection of doctors or medical institutions. However, social network advertising notably affects the choice of medical specialists or institutions, with 48% of respondents indicating they sought out the most prominently featured hospitals or doctors on these platforms. Despite this, 72% of respondents were unaware of personalized advertising strategies or that such messages are often crafted by public relations firms. Most found social network communication with medical staff suitable for follow-ups (92%) but not for initial assessments or determining diagnostic procedures (81%). Still, there was reluctance to rely exclusively on social networks for choosing medical services. Conclusions Patients and their families are open to receiving medical information and communicating with healthcare providers through social networks. However, a limited understanding of the technologies employed to boost the visibility of specific content or endorse procedures on social media could expose patients to skewed information. Responsible regulation of medical information and advertising is imperiously needed.