Myths That Prevent Medical Professionals from Engaging

Abstract

People seeking health and wellness information online frequently uncover inaccurate answers to their questions. Therefore, it is important for medical professionals to participate in social media, providing trustworthy, evidence-based content. Unfortunately, there are many barriers that prevent them from engaging. These include lack of time and technology skills and unfavorable perceptions of risk and profit. Medical professionals may feel they are unable to make a real difference or are not needed because others participate. This chapter further explores these barriers and suggests practical ways to overcome them. It also examines returns on the invested time, including increased empathy for patient concerns, improved communication and clinical skills, early notification of research findings, lifelong medical education and making new connections with colleagues around the world.

You can either allow social media to be helpful for you or it can be harmful. I like to let it be helpful.

—Ciara