Abstract
Background: Digital devices and online social networks are changing clinical practice. In this study, we explored attitudes, awareness, opinions, and experiences of neurologists toward social media and digital devices.Methods: Each member of the Italian Society of Neurology (SIN) participated in an online survey (January to May 2018) to collect information on their attitude toward digital health.Results: Four hundred and five neurologists participated in the study. At work, 95% of responders use the personal computer, 87% the smartphone, and 43.5% the tablet. These devices are used to obtain health information (91%), maintain contact with colleagues (71%), provide clinical information (59%), and receive updates (67%). Most participants (56%) use social media to communicate with patients, although 65% are against a friendship with them on social media. Most participants interact with patients on social media outside working hours (65.2%) and think that social media have improved (38.0%) or greatly improved (25.4%) the relationship with patients. Most responders (66.7%) have no wearable devices available in clinical practice.Conclusion: Italian neurologists have different practices and views regarding the doctor–patient relationship in social media. The availability of digital devices in daily practice is limited. The use of social networks and digital devices will increasingly permeate into everyday life, bringing a new dimension to health care. The danger is that advancement will not go hand in hand with a legal and cultural adaptation, thus creating ambiguity and risks for clinicians and patients. Neurologists will need to be able to face the opportunities and challenges of this new scenario.
Highlights
The use of digital devices and the introduction of online social networks have transformed many aspects of clinical practice
The survey mainly consisted of questions aimed at collecting demographic data of responders, type of digital devices available or used in clinical practice and reasons for use, attitude toward social media in communication with patients, and apps used for medical purposes
To the best of our knowledge, no study has explored how neurologists use social media and digital devices to interact with patients and provide information on diseases yet, though some previous studies assessed the use of social media or digital devices by health care professionals [7]
Summary
The use of digital devices and the introduction of online social networks have transformed many aspects of clinical practice. An ever-growing number of physicians use social media to share health-related information on a range of conditions, to enhance professional development, and to facilitate or reinforce doctor–patient relationship, sometimes even providing online consultations [4]. This led to some ethical and legal issues, mainly related to the maintenance of boundaries or to the respect of privacy and personal data [6]. We explored attitudes, awareness, opinions, and experiences of neurologists toward social media and digital devices
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