From Bedbugs to Scabies: Using Social Media to Disseminate

Consumer Health Information

Ladonna Guillot and Jean Caswell Badeau

Sims Memorial Library Technology Showcase

January 11, 2011

Pew Internet & American Life ProjectData Points

• Facebook surpasses Google as most used Internet site

• 19% of US online adults use Twitter or other status update service

• Social networking usage among those 50 or older doubled from August 2009 to August 2010

• 35% of US adults have cell phones with “apps”

• 17% of cell owners look up health or medical information

• 9% of cell owners have “apps” that help them track or manage their health

Types of Social Media CDC Uses

Image sharingButtons and badgesWidgetsRSS feedsPodcasting Online video sharing eCards Electronic Games Mobile technology Micro-blogs Social networking sites

Developing a Social Media Communication Strategy

• Should be only one part of larger communication/outreach effort

• Identify target audiences

• Determine objectives

• Decide on amount of resources (time, effort, and money)that can be invested

CDC Social Media Toolkit

http://www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/ToolsTemplates/SocialMediaToolkit_BM.pdf

Image Sharing

• CDC’s Image Sharing Page: http://www.cdc.gov/SocialMedia/Tools/ImageSharing.html

• CDC on Flicker: http://www.flickr.com/photos/CDCsocialmedia

Buttons & Badges

• http://www.cdc.gov/socialmedia/tools/buttonsgallery.html• Includes HTML code• Add to websites or LibGuides

Widgets

• http://www.cdc.gov/widgets • http://www.healthfinder.gov/widgets/ • http://www.nih.gov/widgets.htm • Provides interactive information and fresh content

E-cards

• CDC.gov: http://www.cdc.gov/eCards/ • Healthfinder.gov: http://www.healthfinder.gov/ecards/cards.aspx

Mobile Technology

CDC’s mobile website delivers content designed to be viewed on a mobile device: m.cdc.gov

CDC’s Top Lessons Learned from Using Social Media

1. Make Strategic Choices and Understand the Level of Effort 2. Go Where the People Are3. Adopt Low-Risk Tools First4. Make Sure Messages Are Science-based5. Create Portable Content6. Facilitate Viral Information Sharing7. Encourage Participation8. Leverage Networks9. Provide Multiple Formats10. Consider Mobile Phones11. Set Realistic Goals12. Learn from Metrics and Evaluate Your Efforts