Healthcare communication in the age of social media and digital health technologies

Abstract

Communication is one of the most important components in healthcare process. With the rapid advancements in communication technologies in recent years, healthcare communication has undergone significant changes, affecting interactions between general public, healthcare professionals, patients, and their family members. The growing number of patients and family members seeking health-related information on social media highlights the need for caution due to the risk of misinformation. However, public health institutions can make an extensive use of social media platforms to disseminate accurate information and educate a large population. These platforms also serve as valuable resources for researchers, enabling network building, science communication, and crowdsourcing of ideas. Nevertheless, challenges persist, including protecting user privacy, combating fake accounts, disinformation, bots, social media harassment, etc. Healthcare professionals should prioritize countering disinformation by providing evidence-based information. Institutions dedicated to healthcare education and research should incorporate courses on these technologies to equip students and the general public with knowledge and empowerment.