According to the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, 61% of today’s adults search online for health information compared to the 2000 findings of only 25%, which indicates the increase of online users. Beyond online health queries, social media is a medium that can be advantageous for patients from all backgrounds, but it can be much more useful for minority populations who find doctors to be trustworthy and consider their opinions important. The online impact on decisions or actions is a positive one, but it may prove to be more important for ethnic groups who view the doctor as the absolute authority figure when it comes to health care. The right kind of social networking can make an impact.
Numerous studies reveal disparities among ethnic minority groups with reported higher incidence and chronic health conditions compared to the White population. Therefore, reaching ethnic populations via social media could make a significant impact on their health. Culture is a crucial component of the effectiveness of health care delivery and the high regard for the doctor’s opinion will affect the medical intervention. A physician via a social network would help the patient understand and manage their illness, change risky behaviors and make informed treatment decisions. This could play a major role in medical decisions for some groups such as Hispanics or Asians.
Social media can be a powerful tool between a health care expert and a patient willing to act upon the information to improve his or her health. Patients linked to their doctors seems more effective than random online visits for health queries that need to be deciphered and may or not be the best source of information. The ethnic patient will likely adhere to their doctor’s advice. Social media may be the next best link for non-mainstream populations to impact the health of a minority group not always connected to health care access. Communication is key. The doctor connection is crucial. Social media can help. Let’s stay focused on the goal: to improve the patient’s health. Will social media make an impact?
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