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African Health Sciences
Makerere University Medical School
ISSN: 1680-6905 EISSN: 1680-6905
Vol. 18, No. 3, 2018, pp. 817-827
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Bioline Code: hs18100
Full paper language: English
Document type: Study
Document available free of charge
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African Health Sciences, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2018, pp. 817-827
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Family physicians' utility of social media: a survey comparison among family medicine residents and physicians
Irfan, Karim Syed; Farhana, Irfan; Eiad, Al Faris; Nassr, Al Maflehi; Al Mohammed, Al Qahtani; Maya, Nadeem; Ali, Al Hazmi; Ahmed Abdullah, MA; Gominda, Ponnamperuma & Cees van der, Vleuten
Abstract
Introduction: Social media has become ubiquitous and has brought a dramatic change in health services. Little is known about its use
by family physicians and residents for personal or professional purpose. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the utility of
social media among family medicine residents and consultants.
Methods: The collection of data was through the use of a five part questionnaire developed by researchers. The questionnaire was
delivered to 70 physicians and 100 residents, out of which 132questionnaires were completed, representing a 78 percent response rate.
Results: Our findings demonstrate that there was an overall high use of social media. Females used social media more for general
education and professional purposes. Men, by contrast, used it more frequently for personal purposes. The participants in this study
appeared to consider social media as having several useful dimensions, such as: enabling them to accomplish job tasks, improve job
performance, productivity and more effective patient care when using social media.
Conclusions: To date, limited studies have compared social media use among family physicians and residents. This study may serve
as an initial step for future studies explaining the pattern of use among physicians.
Keywords
social media; family physicians; learning; pattern of use; attitudes and gender differences.
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© Copyright 2018 - Irfan et al.
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