integratePR blog

Many doctors advise their patients to stay away from online medical sites like WebMD, Wikipedia, and MedicalNewsToday. However, a new report reveals that Internet access is making a significant impact on people with chronic illnesses. Earlier this year the California Healthcare Foundation paired with the Pew Internet and American Life Project to study the affects of Internet and social media use on people fighting chronic diseases—a group that usually has limited access to the Internet.

The results shed a whole new light on the possibilities offered by social media. Once this normally Internet-restricted group entered the online world, they were utilizing social media far beyond expectation. They are not only researching diseases on Google and Wikipedia, they are blogging, tweeting and taking advantage of all social media has to offer. They are joining online health forums and discussions such as PatientsLikeMe and Daily Strength, in an effort to reach out to others with similar diseases.

Social media has made the Internet more than a search engine for information. For this group of people, it has become a network for open dialogue with others who are going through similar experiences. It is communication at it’s finest. People want more than a WebMD page to read, they want real-time conversations with people who understand them in ways that doctors and loved ones—who aren’t experiencing their symptoms— can’t.

Researchers say this is a healthy outlet for people with chronic diseases. It is improving their health by enhancing their mindset and outlook. They have outlets to vent to, to give and receive support and to share thoughts, suggestions, and treatment options with others. People from all over the world are being united by a common experience through social media and the result is a healthier social environment for those who need it most.

Many doctors have noticed the trend and as a result, have made themselves accessible via social media; many take the time to be in contact with their patients like never before. Not only that, healthcare practitioners are beginning to network with each other and share healthcare information through online communities like CONNECT and Medpedia—taking the field of medicine to a whole new level.

Social media has surprised us again with its versatile application. Since we continually focus on how useful it is in the world of strategic communications, it’s refreshing to realize that social media can have uses beyond that. It is just one more reminder of how important communication is in all aspects of the world around us.