Harnessing the power of social media in optimizing health outcomes

Abstract

The advent of internet and mobile telephony has made tremendous impact in people's lives. The global penetration of mobile phones as estimated by International Telecommunications Union in 2011 was 87% which has facilitated the explosion in information technology. This has even been facilitated further by the emergence of social media platforms. The traditional model of service delivery is under threat due to these advances in technology. The healthcare field which has undergone tremendous technological revolution in virtually all spheres of service provision is also embracing social media, albeit late compared to other sectors. More and more health care stakeholders be it patients, providers or facilities are taking to social media to spread or seek for services In this article, we offer insights on the role of online resources especially social media platforms in healthcare settings. We demonstrate the benefits accrued from being active on the social media from the perspectives of patients, healthcare providers and health facilities. We also highlight the pitfalls that should be borne in mind when transacting affairs using social media platforms. Through this discussion, we seek to inspire the healthcare industry in resource limited settings to embrace social media which has a potential of enhancing efficiency and effectiveness of service provision.

Keywords

• social media
• health outcome
• mobile phone