A new eHealth Initiative (eHI) report finds that social media can reduce the burden of chronic disease on the U.S. health system. This can be accomplished by providing real-time access to care, information, and support. Patients are then empowered to achieve personal health goals, correct high-risk behaviors, and better manage chronic conditions.
Today, millions of adults are connecting with other patients, caregivers, and medical professionals through social media platforms such as message boards, blogs, microblogs, or social networking sites. Discussions are undertaken to discuss how to cope with the demands of a chronic disease, share strategies to achieve a healthier lifestyle, or simply to talk about their experience with a condition or treatment.
The rapid introduction of social media into the world of healthcare has presented both challenges and opportunities. Although the use of social media has proliferated among some populations, it has lagged among others due to a digital divide.
Concerns around privacy, transparency, and anonymity continue to be barrier among late adopters and information overload and as a result, fatigue is beginning to slow sustained use among early adopters.
In addition, because social media content is user-generated, the quality, validity, and authenticity of information can be inconsistent. Consumers, developers, and healthcare organization must develop better eHealth literacy and create policies that mitigate the risks of sharing personally identifiable information.
The report was the result of performing a literature and environmental scan of the field including case studies and informant interviews with key organizations and experts. Support for the report was provided by the California HealthCare Foundation.
To view the report titled “A Report on the Use of Social Media to Prevent Behavioral Risk Factors Associated with Chronic Disease”, go to www.ehidc.org.