'My doctor self and my human self': A qualitative study of physicians' presentation of self on social media
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Physicians blend personal and professional identities online, presenting a holistic image on social media despite potential challenges. This nuanced online presence necessitates updated social media policies and education for healthcare professionals.
Area Of Science
- Medical Social Media Studies
- Digital Health Communication
- Physician Professionalism
Background
- Physicians are trained to maintain separate professional and personal online identities.
- Blurring of online boundaries can impact patient trust and physician professionalism.
- Existing social media policies may not reflect the reality of physicians' online presence.
Purpose Of The Study
- To understand how physicians present themselves holistically on social media.
- To inform the development of responsive social media policies and educational resources for physicians.
- To explore the interplay between personal and professional identities in physicians' online communication.
Main Methods
- Interviewed 28 US-based physicians regarding their social media use (specifically Twitter/X).
- Analyzed interview data and Twitter profiles using Goffman's dramaturgical model.
- Employed reflexive thematic analysis to interpret physicians' self-presentation strategies.
Main Results
- Physicians presented six distinct "faces": professionally focused (e.g., networker) and personal (e.g., human).
- Identity management involved strategic choices in tweets and profiles, influenced by audience perception.
- Overlaps and tensions between personal and professional "faces" created challenges.
Conclusions
- Physicians strategically emphasize professional or personal aspects of their identity online.
- A rounded, integral self-image is preferred despite inherent tensions.
- Social media policies and education need to adapt to physicians' integrated online presence.
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