Abstract
Patients and healthcare providers are becoming increasingly connected via social media, bringing new opportunities and challenges. Direct connection can occur between patients and providers using online tools such as Facebook and LinkedIn. In addition, providers can gather information about patients using a search engine such as Google, referred to as patient-targeted Googling (PTG). An online 54-item survey was used to gain information on (1) how and to what extent genetic counseling students and genetic counselors connect directly with patients via social media sites, and (2) gather information on providers using PTG. Four hundred genetic counseling students and genetic counselors participated in the survey. The majority of respondents (88.9%; n = 344/387) find it is never or rarely acceptable to interact with current patients via social media sites; however, 27.7% (n = 110/397) have visited a patient’s social media site. Gathering information for patient care was the most commonly reported reason (76.8%; n = 43/56). Thirty-three percent (n = 130/394) have considered searching online or actually searched online for information about a patient. Curiosity was the most common reason (92.7%; n = 114/123); although, respondents also used PTG to obtain contact information and to prepare for patient sessions. Our study supports the need for development and dissemination of professional guidelines to serve as a valuable resource for practicing genetic counselors and genetic counseling training programs.
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Acknowledgments
We want to thank Gabriel T. Bosslet for allowing us to use his survey as a model for developing our survey, Michael J. Kallan, and Colleen Brensinger for their input on the survey design and statistical analysis undertaken in this study. This study was conducted to fulfill a degree requirement.
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NinaMarie F. Omaggio, Maria J. Baker, and Laura J. Conway declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Human Studies and Informed Consent
All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000 (5). Informed consent was obtained from all participants for being included in the study.
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No animal studies were carried out by the authors for this article.
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Omaggio, N.F., Baker, M.J. & Conway, L.J. Have You Ever Googled a Patient or Been Friended by a Patient? Social Media Intersects the Practice of Genetic Counseling. J Genet Counsel 27, 481–492 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-017-0206-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-017-0206-4