Social media for patient engagement

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Digital Health Communication

Background:

• Patients frequently use search engines to understand symptoms, leading to the "Dr. Google" phenomenon.
• The increasing presence of social media in healthcare necessitates strategic physician engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of surgeons' social media use (#SoMe4Surgery) in patient engagement.
• To highlight social media's utility in marketing surgical specialties, disseminating guidelines, and combating misinformation.

Main Methods:

• This editorial discusses the strategic application of social media platforms by surgeons.
• It focuses on leveraging social media for patient education and interaction.

Main Results:

• Social media can improve patient health literacy and simplify healthcare navigation.
• Platforms humanize physicians, increasing accessibility and reducing patient fear.
• Effective use can bridge communication gaps, facilitating timely patient care.

Conclusions:

• Surgeons can utilize social media to enhance patient engagement and trust.
• Responsible use of social media is crucial for effective patient communication and education in surgery.