Factors affecting how Australian doctors view and use social media : A follow-up national survey

Journal article

Brown, James, Ryan, Christopher, Elias, Savannah, Talbot, Daniel and Harris, Anthony. (2024). Factors affecting how Australian doctors view and use social media : A follow-up national survey. Procedia Computer Science. 248, pp. 38-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2024.10.361
AuthorsBrown, James, Ryan, Christopher, Elias, Savannah, Talbot, Daniel and Harris, Anthony
Abstract

The pervasive influence of social media has transformed communication globally, including within the medical profession. Despite policies and guidelines by professional bodies, many doctors remain cautious about social media use. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive reassessment of Australian doctors' social media use and attitudes by comparing results from a 2014 national survey to data from 2019. A random sample of 9,000 medical practitioners yielded 565 respondents. The survey examined five areas of online interaction: usage patterns, online behavior, personal information, patients' information, and doctor-patient interactions. Results showed an increase in social media use, with 81.5% of doctors using it during non-work hours and 47.5% during work hours. However, only 33.9% of doctors reported communicating with patients online, with most (76.5%) citing concern with potential legal issues in online patient interaction. Additionally, only 44.8% of all practices had a social media policy that participants were aware of. Our study underscores the need for better training and support to enhance online engagement and patient care, highlighting the slow progress in integrating social media into clinical practice. Improved awareness, policy implementation, and education are crucial to support doctors in navigating online interactions safely and effectively.

Keywordssocial media; professional practice; internet; health communication; ethics; patient-physician relations; health policy
Year2024
JournalProcedia Computer Science
Journal citation248, pp. 38-45
PublisherElsevier B.V.
ISSN1877-0509
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2024.10.361
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85213404753
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
FunderAustralian Medical Publishing Company
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online20 Nov 2024
Publication process dates
Deposited23 May 2025
Additional information

© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0).

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