Social Media Analytics: Impact & Implications in Healthcare

Sharing of ideas, opinions or any information with the help of the medium of virtual networks, onlinecommunities and computer-based innovations is known as social media. Blogs, social networking sites likeFacebook, WhatsApp, YouTube etc, Microblogging mediums, Photos etc. that run with the help of internet,provides the end-users with swift communication and aids in providing awareness, by influencing largeaudiences contributes to social media. Healthcare sector is rapidly adapting social media by providing amedium to the patients, physicans and HCP’s to discuss and communicate medical information andknowledge outside the vicinity of a hospital or clinic. These days, patients, their relatives, friends or familyuse the social media to provide knowledge to the world and educate them incase they have similar ailments.There are several blogs and forums related to medical knowledge where users tend to ask their problems tothe physicians and get a reply back to their problems.Medical specialists join such online medical forums thathelps them to research in a better manner, refer colleagues, increase their network and read health relatedarticles and updates. With every good thing, comes an attached risk which is related to the use of socialmediums, where the image of a Healthcare professional could be at stake due to the unprofessional contentagainst them. There are various limitations to the HCP’s in case they seek to share patient stories online as itcould be a case of breach & privacy. Nevertheless, this research study highlights the role played by socialmedia in digitally redefining and empowering healthcare sector from the perspective of clinical and patientcentric health literacy and health guides.