2024 Volume 8 Article ID: 2024-055
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.
Communication is one of the most important components in healthcare process to provide adequate information1). Healthcare communication can be between healthcare institutions, healthcare professionals (physician, pharmacists, nurses, etc.), healthcare institutions, patients, family members, general public, etc. These include all forms of communication such as verbal communication, non-verbal communication such as gestures, written communication and recently developed techniques such as digital applications. Such communications are necessary not only during the cases of disease or injury but are equally important to maintain health and well-being of the general public1,2).
There are many challenges in effective communication such as stress and anxiety among patients and family members, time constraints for professionals, culture, language, educational background, family members’ access to healthcare professionals in cases of emergency such as COVID-192–4). With the rapid development of advanced communication technologies in recent years, the modes and importance of healthcare communication between healthcare professionals, patients and their family members are also changing. This paper discusses the importance of social media and digital technologies to improve healthcare communication.
The number of social media platforms and social media users has been growing rapidly, creating an excellent opportunity for healthcare professionals to enhance healthcare communication5–7). The number of patients and family members turning to social media for health-related information is also increasing. This growth has allowed for faster, more accessible communication, making it easier for professionals to provide timely health updates, educate the public on preventive care, and raise awareness about critical health issues. The use of social media by public health providing organizations and healthcare professionals can help to message and educate large number of populations with proper information.
Social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. have become increasingly useful resources to establish networks and collaborations, science communication and crowdsourcing among researchers. These platforms help professions to connect with each other creating global collaboration network for improving healthcare. X has been a hub of scientific networking and point of science communication among researchers and public. Post threads known as “Tweetorials” provide an excellent platform for sharing research ideas and results. Posting of research results in simple language provides easy access to public and wider audience. Similarly, the use of hashtags (#) helps to join and follow communication regarding a specific topic and analysis of hashtags can be utilizeed for particular research among X or other platform users for research8). Various social media platforms and digital communication tools are also beneficial for improving health literacy among general public8,9).
While these platforms offer a powerful tool for improved healthcare communication, there are many persisting challenges such as user privacy, and increasing fake accounts, fake news, disinformation, bots, social media harassment, etc. Healthcare providers and researchers should attempt to counter disinformation by providing fact-based information.
Digital health technologies have been useful in various aspects of healthcare in recent years. Wearable gadgets/devices, mobile health applications (apps), telemedicine platforms, and online health information portals are some of the important advancements that have revolutionized healthcare service9–11). They have significantly transformed the overall of healthcare, bringing innovation and accessibility among healthcare providers, patients and general public. These technologies have broadened healthcare’s reach and impact, allowing for new methods to monitor, manage, and deliver healthcare remotely and have also helped in establishing proper healthcare communication. Digital health technologies have become instrumental in shaping the healthcare experience and meeting the growing demands of modern health services in all areas from improving patient engagement to enhancing the efficiency of healthcare delivery.
Mobile health apps, online health information platforms and telemedicine have been instrumental in improving health literacy through patient education and empowerment, improved communication and providing patients with self-management and choice of treatment options9,11). Wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers allow individuals to monitor their vital signs in real time. Mobile health apps offer convenient ways to set reminders for appointments, medication, and virtual access to healthcare professionals. Telemedicine for many decades has greatly helped the people from remote areas by enabling them to receive high-quality medical advice.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in healthcare, bringing about profound changes across various aspects of medical care, data analysis, research, patient engagement and decision making9). The recent integration of AI into digital health technologies promises to take their effectiveness even further, enhancing personalized healthcare. These AI techniques also serve as valuable tools for translating complex medical terminology into simpler language which will be easily understandable to the general public. Similarly, these tools are widely used to translate healthcare information into different languages in multicultural settings, helping both healthcare providers and patients communicate effectively.
However, there are many barriers and challenges in the use of digital technologies such as data privacy and security, algorithm bias, digital literacy, accuracy of health information in online portals, internet access and connectivity bias, etc9,11). Policy makers and healthcare organizations should focus to minimize these barriers and tackle the challenges in future.
Healthcare communication is one of the most important components in healthcare process. Although social media and digital technologies hold great promise in advancing healthcare communication, there are also many challenges. The healthcare communication must adapt to the evolving needs of patients, family members and healthcare providers. Healthcare institutions should focus on ongoing training and education to keep their professionals updated and competent in the use of new communication tools. Similarly, patients, family members and general public must also be informed about the importance and challenges of use of social media and digital technologies to access healthcare information. Educational institutions should empower students and general public about their proper use and risks. Proper collaboration among healthcare institutions, educational institutions, policymakers, and the general public will be essential in achieving this goal. Such collaborations will result in more ethical, responsible and informed use of digital technologies and social media for improving public heath, empowering patients and family members and to prepare for healthcare challenges in the future.
There is no conflict of interest to be disclosed in relation to the contents of this paper.
