The role of social media for patients and consumer health : contribution of the IMIA consumer health informatics working group

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Yearbook of Medical Informatics

Publication Date

1-1-2011

Volume

2011

First Page

131

Last Page

138

Publisher

Schattauer GmbH

Keywords

Social media, healthcare consumers, patients, health behaviour, social network

Abstract

Objectives: To provide an overview on social media for consumers and patients in areas of health behaviours and outcomes. Methods: A directed review of recent literature. Results: We discuss the limitations and challenges of social media, ranging from social network sites (SNSs), computer games, mobile applications, to online videos. An overview of current users of social media (Generation Y), and potential users (such as low socioeconomic status and the chronically ill populations) is also presented. Future directions in social media research are also discussed. Conclusions: We encourage the health informatics community to consider the socioeconomic class, age, culture, and literacy level of their populations, and select an appropriate medium and platform when designing social networked interventions for health. Little is known about the impact of second-hand experiences faciliated by social media, nor the quality and safety of social networks on health. Methodologies and theories from human computer interaction, human factors engineering and psychology may help guide the challenges in designing and evaluating social networked interventions for health. Further, by analysing how people search and navigate social media for health purposes, infodemiology and infoveillance are promising areas of research that should provide valuable insights on present and emergening health behaviours on a population scale.

Print ISSN

09434747

E-ISSN

23640502

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Lau, A. Y. S., Siek, K. A., Fernandez-Luque, L., Tange, H., Chhanabhai, P., Li, Y. W. S,…Eysenbach, G. (2011). The role of social media for patients and consumer health: Contribution of the IMIA consumer health informatics working group. Yearbook of Medical Informatics, 2011, 131-138.

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