Benefits and Dangers of Social Media in the Clinical Setting

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the use of social media in the clinical setting, focusing on its benefits and potential dangers. It highlights how social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, and Instagram are transforming healthcare communication and networking, impacting various stakeholders including patients, nurses, and healthcare facilities. The report discusses how social media facilitates faster sharing of health information, aids in patient education, and connects patients with chronic illnesses. It also examines the role of social media in health policy implementation and public health initiatives. However, the report also addresses the risks associated with social media, such as the spread of misinformation, breaches of patient privacy, and potential impacts on nurse productivity. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of regulating social media use within ethical and legal standards to maximize benefits while mitigating potential harm. The report emphasizes the increasing importance of social media in healthcare as competition grows and technological advancements become key strategies for healthcare organizations. The report references multiple sources and studies to support its claims and provide a well-rounded view of the topic.

Social Media in the Clinical Setting 1
BENEFITS AND DANGERS OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE HEALTH SETTING
By (Name)
Course
Professor’s name
University name
City, State
Date of submission

Social Media in the Clinical Setting 2
Benefits and Dangers of Social Media in the Health Setting
Technology is quickly taking a center stage in healthcare and in nursing activities. One of
the technological and internet advances that is quickly predominating healthcare is the utilization
of social media. Social media refers to a system of electronic sharing of information through
channels like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, and Instagram. On the other hand, social
networking is the creation of business and personal relationship especially online. However, that
being said, social networking in most cases takes place on the social media platform. Different
entities of the healthcare system can benefit on the use of social media. Many health facilities
and healthcare workers have social media pages and regularly use social media as an avenue for
communication (ANMF, 2017, p.1). It has both merits and demerits in the healthcare setting.
Even though it has its disadvantages, social media has proven to be greatly beneficial in the
healthcare setting and, especially to the nurse.
Social media has more impacts that are significant, goals and objectives in health care. To
realize these aspects, we must first understand our customer, patient, consumer, and the
connection required to make them feel better throughout the healing process especially the in
patients. According to the report in the Australian Bureau of statistics, it shows that the e patients
today in Australia are about 100 – 150 million, this means that 80% of the population are e
patients (Cowling 2017). The internet become the first source of healthcare information where 50
% of patients visit to get more information and a smartphone company also reported that 53% of
the smartphone users search for medical related information on the internet (Cowling, 2017, p.
3). This habit of using social media to access health care services has made people to
metamorphose into finding their doctors and hospitals online before they even consult their
families, friends or even before they go to urgent care or clinic. This is a potential of good news

Social Media in the Clinical Setting 3
to our generation because it seems like e patients are always connected and always sharing their
health care experience online by face booking and tweeting to their friends (Alsughayr, 2015, p.
105). This form of sharing leads to amplification of information and leaves a social proof for
other patients to believe on the evidence provided as an assurance of getting better health care
advice.
Social media is of great benefit in the health set up as it enables a faster sharing of
important data and information as far as health is concerned (AHPRA, 2014, p.3). Information
on various diseases, for example, cancer, is available in social media and this demystifies various
myths and misconceptions associated with such diseases (Ventola, 2014, p. 491; Tasselli, 2014,
p. 629). Various treatment options for various diseases are also available in various social media
forums such as Facebook and Twitter. As such, nurses have an easier time. Nurses can use social
media platforms to aid them in giving health education to patients. They can also easily refer
patients to social media platforms such as WhatsApp groups where the patients can find key
information and support (Chretien & Kind, 2013, p. 1415). Also, the availability of information
on these platforms can help nurses to in refreshing their clinical knowledge hence enhancing the
principles of evidence-based practice (EBP).
Additionally, social media is of great use in linking patients suffering from various
chronic illnesses and creating a social network through which they fight the psychological
trauma associated with such illnesses. The patients in question share their experiences and even
their success stories on dealing with the chronic condition (George et al., 2013, p. 4). They also
organize for getting together activities to further share and strengthen one another. Nurses have a
duty to provide holistic care to patients. As such, nurses can ensure adequate psychological
support to patients by referring them to such platforms where they will fight that they are not in

Social Media in the Clinical Setting 4
the fight alone (George, et al., 2013, p. 5). Nurses can enhance the functionality of these
platforms by being joining such platforms too. That way, they can provide scientifically proven
information to the patients and guide them accordingly.
Further, social media enables the general public to easily identify various health facilities
where various specialized medical and surgical services are available. Through social media,
patients are able to identify health facilities that that can deal with their conditions amicably. In
other words, it is a method of advertisement for various health facilities and this enables the
patients to conserve time and resources that could have been wasted visiting wrong facilities.
Nurses, as health promoters, can offer their contribution by using social media to direct patients
to various facilities where they will get the best services (Smailhodzic, et al., 2016, p. 442). This
application of social media is more important for community nurses who can identify patients in
need of various health interventions in the community and, through social media, direct them to
the facilities that can deal with their conditions effectively.
The government and other public offices in the department of health use social media to
pass and implement various health policies. Policymakers also use social media to determine the
position or the opinions of various stakeholders in the health department (Tasselli, 2014, p. 634).
Even in individual hospitals, the hospital administration can use social media platforms to
determine the acceptability and the applicability of the various policies that they make. In the
same way, health facilities and governmental authorities can use social media to conduct health
and demographic surveys that can be vital in the determination of policies (Ventola, 2014, p.
491). Policymakers can also use social media to disseminate vital information to stakeholders.
This application of social media in the clinical setting is relevant at all levels starting from the
department of health to the dissemination of policies from the nurse leader to the other nurses in

Social Media in the Clinical Setting 5
a clinical unit. In other words, healthcare is about communication and social media is an
important communication tool in recent times (Smailhodzic et al., 2016, p. 442). Further, the
department of health can use social media to directly disseminate important information to the
public. Although this does not directly relate to the clinical setting, such information could have
important impacts such as prevention of disease hence it is still relevant to the clinical setting and
the nurse.
Despite its numerous benefits, social media has its limitation and can turn from a good
thing to something that can harm clinical settings. First, social media is used by various
fraudsters to con people and facilities (Chretien & Kind, 2013, p. 1419). The fraudsters do not
only con money but can also use social media as a platform for conning other things like crucial
information on patients. These frauds have often led to the destruction of the reputation of
individuals and entire facilities (Ventola, 2014, p. 491). Some health providers also use social
media as an unregulated platform where they disseminate wrong information on products or
services that they offer. In addition, as an advertisement platform, some rogue, and unqualified
individuals advertise themselves and their services and hence eventually endangering the lives of
patients rather than promoting health (Tasselli, 2014, p. 651). These unqualified individuals have
also given patients wrong information that could potentially harm them in the past. Since most
social media platforms are unregulated, it is difficult for users to determine the authenticity of the
information on the sites. For nurses, therefore, utilization of such information can lead to harm
for their patients (Smailhodzic, et al., 2016, p. 442). Also considering the bad reputation of these
platforms in the context of healthcare, the public can easily mistake an authentic health
professional for a fraud when they consistently use this platforms.

Social Media in the Clinical Setting 6
Further, often with good intentions, people, including healthcare workers like nurses may
share pictures and other information on patients through social media. However, this practice is
unethical and illegal as it often breaches the privacy of the patient (George et al., 2013, p. 3;
Chretien & Kind, 2013, p. 1417). As such, these practices can attract litigation against healthcare
workers like nurses. In addition, some patient information can be disturbing to other individuals
who view it hence deteriorating rather than promoting public health. To rip from the benefits of
social media, nurses are obliged not to distribute or disseminate information of poor quality to
the users and should not take this opportunity as a platform to breach the privacy of their patients
lest they face legal action. It would be appropriate if nurses use social media for professional
matters and not personal activities, however, according to survey conducted in by QuantiaMD, a
social media site; it shows that 90% of nurses use the site for personal activities while 65% use it
for professional purposes (Chretien & Kind, 2013, p.1418).
Finally, social media platforms have turned out to be great sources of entertainment. As
such, it is difficult for many individuals, including nurses, to keep away from social media. Thus,
time on these platforms takes a big proportion of many nurses’ time hence impairing on their
productivity and worsening patient outcomes in the process (Ventola, 2014, p. 491).
In conclusion, research has found out that social media is an unavoidable with its benefits
being more than the dangers. The benefits outnumber the dangers both numerically and content
wise. The dangers, though few, may be so devastating to the point of causing death or disability
to the unsuspecting subject. It is, therefore, important to regulate the use of social media in the
health setting within specific ethical and legal standards that consider both the patients’ safety
and the needs of the healthcare worker. However, the increase in the use of social media will
continue to grow in the near future. This is because as competition grows, marketing and

Social Media in the Clinical Setting 7
improved technological enhancement in hospital will start becoming a major strategy of the
survival of health care organizations. To achieve this, social media will have to play a bigger role
in reaching their clients who are mainly patients hence the drive to technology enhancement in
the healthcare sector for communication.

Social Media in the Clinical Setting 8
References
AHPRA, 2014. Social Media Policy. Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency,
2(3), pp.1-4.
Alsughayr, A. R., 2015. Social media in healthcare: Uses, risks, and barriers. Saudi
Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 3(2), 105. http://www.sjmms.net/article.asp?
issn=1658-631X;year=2015;volume=3;issue=2;spage=105;epage=111;aulast=Alsughayr
ANMF, 2017. Use of Social Media and Online Networking. Australian Nursing &
Midwifery Federation, 3(2), pp.1-4.
Chretien, K. C., & Kind, T., 2013. Social media and clinical care: ethical, professional,
and social implications. Circulation, 127(13), 1413-1421.
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/127/13/1413.short
Cowling, D., 2017. Social Media Statistics Australia – August 2017. [Online]
Available at: https://www.socialmedianews.com.au/social-media-statistics-australia-
august-2017/
[Accessed 2 May 2018].
George, D. R., Rovniak, L. S., & Kraschnewski, J. L., 2013. Dangers and opportunities
for social media in medicine. Clinical obstetrics and gynecology, 56(3).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3863578/
Smailhodzic, E., Hooijsma, W., Boonstra, A., & Langley, D. J., 2016. Social media use in
healthcare: a systematic review of effects on patients and on their relationship with
healthcare professionals. BMC health services research, 16(1), 442.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27562728
Tasselli, S., 2014. Social networks of professionals in health care organizations: a review.
Medical Care Research and Review, 71(6), 619
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1077558714557079

Social Media in the Clinical Setting 9
Ventola, C. L., 2014. Social media and health care professionals: benefits, risks, and best
practices. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 39(7), 491.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4103576/