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Cited by 76Social Media in Health EducationInnovations in Medical EducationImpact of Technology on Adolescents

Digital professionalism on social media: A narrative review of the medical, nursing, and allied health education literature

Open access
O’Connor, Siobhan, Zhang, Mengying, Honey, Michelle, Lee, Jung Jae·2021·International Journal of Medical Informatics
DOI 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2021.104514
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Abstract

Background Medical, nursing, and allied health students, and professionals are using online environments such as social media to communicate and share information. However, some have difficulty differentiating between their professional and personal roles and can behave inappropriately online. Better education and training may help prevent these issues from arising.Objective Identify and synthesise literature on educating healthcare students and practitioners about digital professionalism on social media.Method Four databases i.e., CINAHL, ERIC, MEDLINE and PubMed were searched using relevant terms. Five hundred and twenty-two articles were found and screened. Data extraction and critical appraisal were conducted. Analysis followed Braun and Clarke's six phases of thematic analysis.Results Eleven studies were included in the review. Digital professionalism was taught across medicine, nursing, and allied health education using a number of pedagogical approaches including traditional face-to-face teaching, as well as fully online, and blended methods. Its impact on learning centred on acquiring knowledge about communicating appropriately on social media which appeared to change how some students and practitioners behaved online, while improving confidence and information literacy. Developing and delivering education on digital professionalism tended to be affected by the amount of time faculty and trainers had to create curricula, organise and deliver teaching, and support students and clinicians. The design of the online platform seemed to be important as some had more functionality than others, allowing for greater interaction, which appeared to keep learners engaged.Discussion and conclusion This review provides the first synthesis of literature on educating the medical, nursing, and allied health professions on digital professionalism on social media. The results identify potential issues, knowledge gaps, and highlight implications for future educational interventions. Recommendations include setting clear boundaries and pedagogical instructions, understanding and applying privacy settings online, and utilising co-creation approaches with students and practitioners to improve the quality of health education.

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Authors
O’Connor, S., Zhang, M., Honey, M., & Lee, J. J.
Affiliations
  • University of Edinburgh (GB)
  • University of Auckland (NZ)
  • University of Hong Kong (HK)
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Medical Informatics
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-09
Volume
153
Pages
104514
ISSN
1386-5056 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2021.104514
OpenAlex
W3172527457
Cited by
76
References
70
Citations by year
2026: 22 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 1
FWCI
0.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • International Journal of Medical Informatics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Social Media in Health Education
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
Keywords
digital professionalism, social media, professional boundaries, online professional conduct, medical education, nursing education, allied health education, health professions students, information literacy, online learning platforms, blended learning, co-creation, privacy settings
MeSH terms
Professionalism, Health Education, Humans, Learning, Students, Social Media

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