Titre du document Auteurs
Email: [email protected] www.amq.ca
Rural Physicians in Quebec use Social Media Predominantly amongst Themselves, with a Spontaneous Eye to
Professionalism and the PreservaCon of the Doctor-‐PaCent RelaConship
Vander Stelt, Ruth1,2, BA, MD, CCFP; Nadon, Robert2; Archambault, Patrick4,5, MD, MSc, FRCPC
1-‐ Centre de santé et de services sociaux PonGac, Shawville, Québec; 2-‐President, Québec Medical AssociaGon; 3-‐ Director of Professional Affairs, Québec Medical AssociaGon; 4-‐ FRQS Clinical Scholar, Université Laval, Québec; 5-‐ Centre de santé et de services sociaux Alphonse-‐Desjardins, Lévis, Québec
Background
Ø Social media are increasingly popular and widely used. Ø Although several jurisdicCons have developed guidelines for their use, liHle is
known about how rural physicians perceive and use them in their pracCce.
ObjecGves Ø To idenCfy the beliefs and uses of social media amongst rural physicians.
Methods
Conclusion
Results
Ø In April 2012, verbal interviews were conducted amongst all 27 full-‐Cme
physicians in our health centre, including 22 family physicians, 3 surgeons, 1 anestheCst, and 1 internist.
Ø ParCcipants were interviewed about their interprofessional usage of social media as well as any usage with paCents: what they saw as advantages and disadvantages; any spontaneous or structured guidelines they use, and the need for addiConal guidance.
Ø One reviewer compiled and analyzed the results of the interviews and then two reviewers drew conclusions based on the informaCon gleaned.
Ø Figure 1. What social media is used ?
Ø Figure 2. What are the barriers to using social media ?
Ø Figure 3. Reasons for using social media
Ø A minority of physicians uses Facebook, TwiHer and LinkedIn. Ø A larger proporCon uses Ruralmed listserve, an electronic forum for rural
physicians. Ø The most widely used social media amongst colleagues is e-‐mail, used by 75% of
physicians, essenCally for administraCve purposes. Ø 10% of physicians reported no use at all Ø This low use also corresponded to pracCces where the Advanced-‐Access model is
acCvely in use and paCents are not seeking increased access to their physician. Ø Only 30% of physicians use social media with their paCents -‐ this is limited to
email as well. Ø None accept or offer friend status on Facebook. Ø Reasons for this low use of social media include: 1) perceived impersonal nature
of social media; 2) lack of Cme and interest; 3) fear of being overwhelmed; 4) Internet connecCon problems.
Ø Physicians were divided as to the need for addiConal guidance, with 44% in favour, 15% against, and 41% unsure.
Table 1. Demographic informaCon (N=27) Female gender -‐ N (%)
8 (30)
Mean age (years) 50 Full Gme physicians -‐ N (%) 27 (100) Family physicians -‐ N (%)
22 (81)
Surgeons -‐ N (%)
3 (11)
Anesthesist -‐ N (%)
1 (4)
Internist -‐ N (%)
1 (4)
75%
6% 3% 3% 3%
10% Social media used with colleagues
Email Ruralmed listserv Facebook Twi^er LinkedIn Nil
30%
70%
Social media used with paCents
Email Nil
33%
21%
17%
17%
13%
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Impersonal
Fear of being overwhelmed
Lack of Gme
Lack of interest
Internet problems
79%
7% 7%
7% AdministraGve Case discussion Clinical Knowledge sharing
Ø Figure 3. What addiConal guidance is required ?
66%
17%
17% PracGce guidelines
Secure environment Security codes
Ø These physicians from rural Québec are generally cauCous faced with the phenomenon of social media, which they perceive to be currently non-‐adapted to the doctor-‐paCent relaConship.
Ø They predominantly use email amongst themselves for administraCve purposes. They spontaneously adopt a framework of professionalism and respect for confidenCality.
Ø They are divided as to the need for addiConal guidance.
