Patients and Doctors in Web 2.0 and Social Media

Background: The broadband and mobile internet access and the widespread use of web 2.0 services and social media have a strong impact on how medicine is practiced, how patients obtain health and healthcare information. The newly acquired skill of patients to access the same sources of medical information as health care professionals brought on notable changes in the traditional doctor-patient relationship. Both doctors and patients, however, do not feel confident yet about the changes that internet and social media have brought. Patients often feel uneasy to disclose to physicians their personal research on the internet and/or their connecting with other patients with similar diseases to exchange information on symptoms, medicines, health care providers. Physicians on the other hand, are uncomfortable with patients who seem to have researched their symptoms or disease and ask questions. Doctors do not offer to patients additional information about diseases, their options for medicines or treatment, and do not indicate reliable information sources on the internet. They are thus, missing opportunities for patient education and building trust in their relationship with patients. Objective: The use of web 2.0 services and social media by physicians and patients varies considerably among regions. In the USA and Northern Europe, it has grown considerably, while in Southern, Central and Eastern Europe it just emerges. The different models of medicine practice in Europe and Anglo-Saxon regions reflect in the use of internet and social media. In many European countries the paternalistic model of medicine practice prevails and is accepted by both healthcare professionals and patients. This study’s objective is to show that web2.0 and social media can be valuable learning, networking and communication tools, using case studies of physicians successfully including web 2.0 services and social media in their medical practice and of expert patients, known as e-patients, who educate themselves, connect with other patients, and improve their health outcomes. Examples of health care providers and patients from Europe including Greece will show how their use of web2.0 and social media differs from that of their peers. Method: As an internet user for health and healthcare information, since the early 90s, an online patient communities’ member and social media active user, the observational method is used. My observations stem from participation in several online social media platforms and tools, online and off-line contacts with Greek, European, and US physicians, patients and members of patient organizations, as well as information from regional and international medicine and patient advocacy conferences, which I attended as speaker or participant. In my observations, I have kept note of findings of published research on health/healthcare use of web2.0 and social media, the social impact of internet on health, mobile health and observed how these apply to doctors and patients in my country and those I come in contact with from other countries. Results: Undoubtedly, American doctors and patients use more broadly and in a more elaborate, sophisticated way the internet and social media, but also in the USA, there are still regions, where the physician remains the basic, if not the ultimate source of information for patients, and also where patients are reluctant to use web2.0 and social media. European doctors and patients have only recently started to use web2.0 and social media, but differently than their American counterparts. Europeans are more conservative in sharing health concerns publicly online or in communicating with other health professionals on medical issues, but once they experience the benefits of crowd-sourcing, usually, they become adepts. In Greece, the physicians on web2.0 and social media are still few and their majority is perplexed about how they can use them. They do not use it for engaging with patients or with peers in medical and/or healthcare topics, but mostly socially about politics, news, chatting with friends, sharing music, photos and videos. Few consider them as modern medical marketing tools. The number of Greek patients on web2.0 and the social media is growing although it is still small. Few Greek patients share their health concerns online, advocate for better healthcare or to promote their cause. Greek patients and doctors use both Greek and English language in social media and connect with other Greeks and foreigners. Conclusions: The web2.0 and social media adoption by physicians and patients varies considerably among countries and different socio-economic demographics, but adoption rates of the last three years show wider spread. The majority of adopters is found in oncology, diabetes, mental and neurological diseases. Southern, Central and Eastern Europe are among the late adopters. Physicians and patients venturing on web 2.0 and social media often use as models power users in their specialty or disease. Web2.0 and social media offer many benefits to physicians and patients, if used with care. They are just tools, and as tools, if the user knows their possibilities and uses them sensibly, he will find out that they are valuable knowledge and engagement means