As the digital world continues to grow, so do new ways to connect with others. One of the most popular ways today is through social media. It’s an online platform where users can create personal profiles, connect with friends and follow other users to see their updates, photos, videos and more. Social media has become a staple in everyday life for many people. Today, nearly all Millennials and Gen Zers (84%) use at least one social media app daily — that’s approximately 42 million people between 18-35 years old who use social media on a regular basis. And according to a recent study by CommonSense Media, 94% of teens ages 13-18 with an Instagram account would like their doctors to have one as well.

Why is social media important for patients?

Social media offers patients a chance to be heard, express concern and engage with others by sharing their personal experiences. People can come to terms with their situation and discover new ways to cope with their medical condition by meeting others dealing with the same challenges. People can connect with others who have been through what they are currently experiencing and can provide support:

- Social Media Reduces Anxiety - By connecting with others, patients can reduce their anxiety levels. In fact, according to research, online connections lead to far less anxiety than traditional support groups.

- Social Media Helps Patients Find Support - Patients can find people with similar experiences who have already gone through what they are going through now and can provide support from the other side.

Doctors and Patients: How to Develop a Relationship

Social media enables individuals to form relationships with their communities and each other. By looking at the posts and photos, you can get a better idea of a person’s interests, mood and personality. Some patients want to know a little bit more about their doctor or healthcare providers. With social media, you can use your page to share fun facts about yourself or your family. You can also post photos of your family, friends and your interests. You can use your page to post reminders about important health facts or events happening in your community. You can also host contests or games, or ask questions to your pages. Sometimes people forget they can go to their doctor’s page to get more information or ask questions.

4 Ways Social Media Helps Build Patients’ Trust

Social media platforms provide a space for open discourse about health and wellness. People can candidly share their experiences with certain conditions or treatments, providing insights into their lived experiences. This creates an opportunity for patients to share their knowledge and connect with others who might be going through the same thing.

- Social Media Helps Patients Find Support

- Patients can find people with similar experiences who have already gone through what they are going through now and can provide support from the other side.

- Social Media Provides Access to Information

- Users can come together to share information about their condition, treatment, symptoms and more, helping each other out in the process. This information can be particularly useful for people who don’t have easy access to healthcare providers.

- Social Media Provides Information That Is Visually-Oriented

- People may find it easier to understand information when it’s broken down in a way that’s easy to understand. This includes information about a condition, treatment or symptoms.

- Social Media Provides a Place to Ask Questions

- People can ask questions that range from the silly to the serious. This might include questions about the diagnosis, treatment or the side effects of treatments.

3 Ways Social Media Improves Patient Care

- Social Media Helps Doctors Monitor Patient Health - Physicians can use social media to monitor current health issues or diseases, and provide insights into emerging topics in the medical community. This can be particularly helpful when a new health crisis or disease outbreak occurs.

- Social Media Provides Insight Into Patients’ Needs - People need something they can relate to, something that helps them understand what they are going through. With social media, patients can come together and share their stories, providing insight into their needs and desires.

- Social Media Helps Doctors Find New Partners - With social media, doctors can find new partners, experts and organisations to work with. This can allow them to expand their network and find people who can help with their research and studies.

2 Ways Using Social Media Is Important for Medical Professionals

- Social Media Increases Visibility - Physicians who use social media are seen as more approachable and authentic. This can help them to build trust with their communities and potential patients.

- Social Media Helps Doctors Find New Partners - With social media, doctors can find new partners, experts and organisations to work with. This can allow them to expand their network and find people who can help with their research and studies.

If you want to build your social media presence, we can help you map out an effective strategy and manage your daily activities on various platforms. Schedule a free call with us here.

Conclusion

The digital world is growing, and with that, the need and use of social media is continuing to increase. With new and innovative ways to use social media, it is important that medical professionals understand how to use social media and how it can benefit their practice.

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