Social Media Impact in Making Medical Decisions

•  My Practice reputation report opined that the use of social media in the healthcare industry has skyrocketed.
• According to a survey of 2,204 U.S. adults conducted on behalf of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), 32% of respondents said they had taken a health-related action such as "modifying their diet, taking a dietary supplement, changing their exercise routine or trying an alternative treatment based on information they read on social media."
•  15% of parents with children below 18 have self-diagnosed a health concern based on information found on social media.
•  54% of millennials (18 to 34 years) and 42% of all adults are or would like to be friends with or follow their health care professionals on social media.
•  65% of millennials and 43% of all adults "think it is appropriate to use social media to contact their physician about a health issue, either by posting a message on the physician's web page or via direct message."
• Another report by Mediabistro opined that over 40% of customers agree that the information found on social media impacts how they handle their healthcare.
•  90% of millennials are reported to trust healthcare information shared by people on social media.
• Another report by Demi & Cooper Advertising and D.C. Interactive Group suggests that 41% of respondents said social media influenced their choice of a doctor, facility, or medical practice.
• Also, 33% of U.S. customers make use of social media in searching for health-related data.
•  40% of people think information found on social media impacts how they cope with a chronic illness, view their healthcare regimen, and choose a doctor.
• A study by PwC Health Research indicated that over 75% of Americans use social media to research their health symptoms.
•  42% of individuals searching for health information on social media look at health-related consumer reviews.

Summary