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Professional Use of Social Media by Pharmacists: A Qualitative Study
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Benetoli, Arcelio Chen, Timothy Frank Schaefer, Marion Chaar, Betty Bouad Aslani, Parisa |
| Copyright Year | 2016 |
| Abstract | BACKGROUND Social media is frequently used by consumers and health care professionals; however, our knowledge about its use in a professional capacity by pharmacists is limited. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to investigate the professional use of social media by pharmacists. METHODS In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with practicing pharmacists (N=31) from nine countries. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed. RESULTS Wikipedia, YouTube, and Facebook were the main social media platforms used. Professional use of social media included networking with peers, discussion of health and professional topics, accessing and sharing health and professional information, job searching, and professional promotion. Wikipedia was the participants' first choice when seeking information about unfamiliar topics, or topics that were difficult to search for. Very few pharmacy-related contributions to Wikipedia were reported. YouTube, a video-sharing platform, was used for self-education. University lectures, "how-to" footage, and professionally made videos were commonly watched. No professional contribution was made to YouTube. Facebook, a general social networking site, was used for professional networking, promotion of achievements, and job advertisements. It also afforded engagement in professional discussions and information sharing among peers. CONCLUSIONS Participants used social media in a professional capacity, specifically for accessing and sharing health and professional information among peers. Pharmacists, as medicines experts, should take a leading role in contributing to health information dissemination in these user-friendly virtual environments, to reach not only other health care professionals but also health consumers. |
| Starting Page | 59 |
| Ending Page | 68 |
| Page Count | 10 |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| PubMed reference number | 27663570v1 |
| Volume Number | 18 |
| Journal | Journal of medical Internet research |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Achievement Advertisements Contribution Health Care Lectures Probability Social Media Used Quit Cigarette Smoking Videos |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
