Presentation
PS13 - Trust in Medical Information Sources and Social Media Health Information-Seeking Behaviors in Young Adults
SessionPoster Session 2
DescriptionIndividuals are increasingly using social media as a source of medical information. Information on social media may or may not conflict with scientifically derived knowledge or practices by medical professionals. However, accurate medical information is also available from credible social media sources which can improve health outcomes and even lead to greater feelings of empowerment for individuals engaged with the healthcare system. For medical services providers, understanding how individuals use different social media services for health-related information is critical in order to understand how the potential dissemination of accurate or inaccurate medical information can affect the patient-doctor interaction and subsequently, an individual’s health.
The present study explored health-information-seeking patterns of individuals across different types of social media services while accounting for information source trust. Specifically, the research examined how differences in individual trust in medical providers or social media health information impacted health-related information-seeking behavior across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Snapchat, and Twitch. The research explored which types of medical information are sought out by individuals and their level of trust and acceptance in both the information and medical providers in general.
A sample of 183 young adults provided data regarding their social media health-information-seeking behavior use habits, trust in both medical providers and social media health information, and demographic background. Data analysis showed differences in use preferences and trust across social media services.
In general, participants were most likely to use Instagram and TikTok for health information, with Twitch and Snapchat being the least used. Facebook and Snapchat were considered the least useful sites for medical information. In contrast, TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram were considered the most useful sites. Finally, TikTok was the most trusted social media site for medical health information. Participants predominantly found TikTok as most useful and trustworthy. Interestingly, trust was impacted by participants' biological sex, with male participants placing higher trust in TikTok and Instagram than women. While most participants expressed high trust in medical providers, 23.5% determined whether medical providers or information on social media were more accurate based on the type of information they were seeking. In summary, results from the study show that not all social media sites are evaluated equally by individuals in regard to health information usefulness and trustworthiness. While trust in medical providers is high, participants may still elect to trust social media over medical providers.
This study is important to advance the understanding of medical information sourcing in patient-doctor communication. Health-related information and the trust individuals place in it underlies the mental models and general attitudes patients have toward medical interactions and practices. For providers, the study highlights the differences between social media sources in user behavior which may impact these mental models and attitudes. Finally, for providers, the study identifies a large number of users who do not automatically choose to trust the medical provider over social media information. Understanding the potential distrust of information patients may have in patient-doctor interactions enables medical providers to anticipate concerns and proactively address misinformation during consultations, fostering effective communication and trust.
The present study explored health-information-seeking patterns of individuals across different types of social media services while accounting for information source trust. Specifically, the research examined how differences in individual trust in medical providers or social media health information impacted health-related information-seeking behavior across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Snapchat, and Twitch. The research explored which types of medical information are sought out by individuals and their level of trust and acceptance in both the information and medical providers in general.
A sample of 183 young adults provided data regarding their social media health-information-seeking behavior use habits, trust in both medical providers and social media health information, and demographic background. Data analysis showed differences in use preferences and trust across social media services.
In general, participants were most likely to use Instagram and TikTok for health information, with Twitch and Snapchat being the least used. Facebook and Snapchat were considered the least useful sites for medical information. In contrast, TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram were considered the most useful sites. Finally, TikTok was the most trusted social media site for medical health information. Participants predominantly found TikTok as most useful and trustworthy. Interestingly, trust was impacted by participants' biological sex, with male participants placing higher trust in TikTok and Instagram than women. While most participants expressed high trust in medical providers, 23.5% determined whether medical providers or information on social media were more accurate based on the type of information they were seeking. In summary, results from the study show that not all social media sites are evaluated equally by individuals in regard to health information usefulness and trustworthiness. While trust in medical providers is high, participants may still elect to trust social media over medical providers.
This study is important to advance the understanding of medical information sourcing in patient-doctor communication. Health-related information and the trust individuals place in it underlies the mental models and general attitudes patients have toward medical interactions and practices. For providers, the study highlights the differences between social media sources in user behavior which may impact these mental models and attitudes. Finally, for providers, the study identifies a large number of users who do not automatically choose to trust the medical provider over social media information. Understanding the potential distrust of information patients may have in patient-doctor interactions enables medical providers to anticipate concerns and proactively address misinformation during consultations, fostering effective communication and trust.
Event Type
Poster Presentation
TimeTuesday, April 14:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
LocationFrontenac Foyer