Introduction:
The growth of social networking in the Internet has been phenomenal. According to a new eMarketer report, nearly one in four people worldwide will use social networks in 2013. This new wave of social networks is expanding to discussions on healthcare and health risk decision making. Social media could be used effectively in reducing the inequalities through the access of health information. Thus, social media, being a platform upon which to share personal experiences, has opened the door to new and quicker ways of communicating health information, both by providers and patients.
Types of online health social networks:
There are different types of health social networks,
Patient-to-patient network
Social networks in which people with health concerns or conditions go online to research their health in order to find fellow patients with whom to discuss their condition, treatment method, drugs and receive moral support, fall under patient –to-patient network.
Doctor-to-patient network
Social networks, which allows patients to post doctor reviews, check doctor’s schedule before booking an appointment, ask medical questions to doctors in the network and intra-network information sharing among doctors, fall under doctor-to-patient network.
Doctor-to-doctor network
Social networks that connect doctors, medical students and doctors, for knowledge sharing, discuss different treatment methods, diagnosis and drugs, practice methods, fall under doctor-to-doctor network.
Social media for all health and medical careers
For people involved in other health care careers, including life science, biology and psychology, nursing can connect with others.
Need for online health social media:
Medical Providers:
Medical providers could use health social networks to “push information out”. Social networks have the potential to create a multiplier effect when new information is shared among users, at a low cost.
Medical
References: http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Social-Networking-Reaches-Nearly-One-Four-Around-World/1009976#IwhKLVq0piOkVk8p.99 http://mastersinhospitaladministration.com/2011/top-25-health-and-medical-social-media-sites/ http://money.cnn.com/2013/04/11/technology/social-media-health-care.pr.fortune/index.html