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Cited by 94Social Media in Health EducationInnovations in Medical EducationHealth and Medical Education

e-Professionalism: A New Frontier in Medical Education

Open access
Kaczmarczyk, Joseph M., Chuang, Alice, Dugoff, Lorraine, Abbott, Jodi F., Cullimore, Amie J., Dalrymple, John, Davis, Katrina R., Hueppchen, Nancy A. +5 more·2013·Teaching and Learning in Medicine
DOI 10.1080/10401334.2013.770741
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: This article, prepared by the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics Undergraduate Medical Education Committee, discusses the evolving challenges facing medical educators posed by social media and a new form of professionalism that has been termed e-professionalism. SUMMARY: E-professionalism is defined as the attitudes and behaviors that reflect traditional professionalism paradigms but are manifested through digital media. One of the major functions of medical education is professional identity formation; e-professionalism is an essential and increasingly important element of professional identity formation, because the consequences of violations of e-professionalism have escalated from academic sanctions to revocation of licensure. CONCLUSION: E-professionalism should be included in the definition, teaching, and evaluation of medical professionalism. Curricula should include a positive approach for the proper professional use of social media for learners.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1080/10401334.2013.770741

Cites

31 of 31 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

12 of 45 cited sources checked · 11 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Interpretationreasoning

    Given the proliferation of social media, the Thompson et al. data underestimate the scope and magnitude of current social media use by learners in medical education.

    “Given the proliferation of social media, the Thompson et al. 14 data underestimate the scope and magnitude of current social media use by learners in medical education.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [14] 14. Thompson L, Dawson K, Ferdig R, et al. The intersection of online so- cial networking and medical professionalism. Journal of General Medicine 2008;23:954-7. source
    • cites [15] 15. Kirkpatrick M. Facebook hits 100 million users. ReadWriteWeb. August 25, 2008. Available at: http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/facebook hits 100 million user.php. Accessed July 14, 2012.

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [16] 16. Rusli E. Facebook files for an IPO. New York Times. February 1, 2012. http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/facebook-files-for-an-i-p-o/. Ac- cessed July 14, 2012.

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Premisecitation

    More medical students than residents had a Facebook account (64.3% vs. 12.8%, p < .0001).

    “More medical students than residents had a Facebook account (64.3% vs. 12.8%, p < .0001).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [14] 14. Thompson L, Dawson K, Ferdig R, et al. The intersection of online so- cial networking and medical professionalism. Journal of General Medicine 2008;23:954-7. source
  • Premisecitation

    The majority of learners in both groups (62.1% of students and 67.5% of residents) kept their Facebook accounts public because they did not change default privacy settings.

    “The majority of learners in both groups, 62.1% of students and 67.5% of residents, kept their Facebook accounts”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [14] 14. Thompson L, Dawson K, Ferdig R, et al. The intersection of online so- cial networking and medical professionalism. Journal of General Medicine 2008;23:954-7. source

      The Description of Facebook Users reports that 62.1% of students and 67.5% of residents with Facebook accounts kept them public. The Methods say users could designate accounts private or public, but the paper does not establish that the public accounts resulted from users leaving default privacy settings unchanged. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Premisecitation

    A 2010 national, random, stratified survey found that 1.2% of medical students, 7.8% of residents, and 34.5% of practicing physicians received friend requests from a patient or a patient's family member.

    “A 2010 national, random, stratified survey 19 found that 1.2% of medical students, 7.8% of residents, and 34.5% of practicing physicians received friend requests from a patient or a patient's family member.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [19] 19. Bosslet GT, Torke AM, Hickman SE, Terry CL, Helfit PR. The patient-doctor relationship and online social networks: Results of a national survey. Journal of General Internal Medicine 2011;26:1168- 74. source
  • Premisecitation

    Nearly 45% of medical students and residents had a Facebook account.

    “Thompson et al. 14 reported that nearly 45% of its medical students and residents had a Facebook account.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [14] 14. Thompson L, Dawson K, Ferdig R, et al. The intersection of online so- cial networking and medical professionalism. Journal of General Medicine 2008;23:954-7. source
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 13
  • May combine two claims. 14

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Although much has been written and discussed about professionalism, e-professionalism has not been addressed because lapses in professionalism in the electronic realm are just beginning to be appreciated.

    “Despite these strides, Spector et al. 3 concluded that although much has been written and discussed about professionalism, e-professionalism has not been addressed because lapses in professionalism in the electronic realm are just beginning to be appreciated.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3] 3. Spector ND, Martz PS, Levine LJ, et al. e-Professionalism: Challenges in the age of information. Journal of Pediatrics 2010;156:345-6. source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    70% of examined profiles had photographs depicting alcohol consumption, with 10-50% implying excess drinking.

    “Examination of the content revealed that 70% had photographs depicting alcohol consumption (10-50% implying excess drinking)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [14] 14. Thompson L, Dawson K, Ferdig R, et al. The intersection of online so- cial networking and medical professionalism. Journal of General Medicine 2008;23:954-7. source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    The 2010 national survey of patient-doctor relationships and online social networks had only a 16% response rate.

    “It is important to note, however, that this study had only a 16% response rate.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [19] 19. Bosslet GT, Torke AM, Hickman SE, Terry CL, Helfit PR. The patient-doctor relationship and online social networks: Results of a national survey. Journal of General Internal Medicine 2011;26:1168- 74. source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Of the 13 schools with social media policies, five (38.46%) defined unacceptable or strongly discouraged online behaviors, whereas seven (53.85%) encouraged thoughtful and responsible use of social media.

    “Five (38.46%) defined unacceptable or strongly discouraged online behaviors, whereas seven (53.85%) encouraged thoughtful and responsible use of social media.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [26] 26. Kind T, Genrich G, Sodhi A, Chretien KC. Social media policies at US medical schools. Medical Education 2010;15:5324. doi:10.3402/meo. v15i0.5234 source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Online friendships with patients may lead to interactions extraneous to the patient-doctor relationship.

    “Guseh et al. 20 reported that these”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [20] 20. Guseh II JS, Brendel RW, Brendel DH. Medical professionalism in the age of online social networking. Journal of Medical Ethics 2009;35: 584-6. source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Among these clerkship directors, 19% accepted the student request, whereas 48% accepted the resident request.

    “Among these clerkship directors, 19% accepted the student request, whereas 48% accepted the resident request.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [22] 22. Chretien KC, Farnan JM, Greysen SR, Kind T. To friend or not friend? Social networking and faculty perceptions of online professionalism. Aca- demic Medicine 2011;86:1545-50. source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In a 2010 survey of internal medicine clerkship directors, 53% reported receiving a friend request from a current student and 63% from a current resident.

    “In a 2010 survey of internal medicine clerkship directors, Chretien et al. 22 ascertained that 53% reported receiving a friend request from a current student and 63% from a current resident.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [22] 22. Chretien KC, Farnan JM, Greysen SR, Kind T. To friend or not friend? Social networking and faculty perceptions of online professionalism. Aca- demic Medicine 2011;86:1545-50. source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    In health care, organizational concerns about social media postings fall into three classifications: reputation, privacy, and productivity.

    “Cain maintained that in health care, organizational concerns about social media postings fall into three classifications: reputation, privacy, and productivity.23”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [23] 23. Cain J. Social media in health care: The case for organizational policy and employee education. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy 2011;68:1036-40. source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Online friendships with patients may not prioritize the therapeutic interests of the patient.

    “Guseh et al. 20 reported that these”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [20] 20. Guseh II JS, Brendel RW, Brendel DH. Medical professionalism in the age of online social networking. Journal of Medical Ethics 2009;35: 584-6. source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In a survey of French residents and fellows, 73% had a Facebook profile, but only 3% reported having accepted a friend request from a patient.

    “Seventy-three percent of those surveyed had a Facebook profile, but only 3% reported having accepted a friend request from a patient.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [21] 21. Moubarak G, Guiot A, Benhamou Y, Benhamou A, Hariri S. Facebook activity of residents and fellows and its impact on the doctor-patient rela- tionship. Journal of Medical Ethics. December 15, 2010. Online first. Avail- able at: http://jme.bmj.com/content/early/2010/11/07/jme.2010.036293? q= w jme ahead tab source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In a national survey of accredited U.S. allopathic medical schools, 60% reported incidents of students posting unprofessional content online, with some violating patient confidentiality.

    “In a national survey of accredited U.S. allopathic medical schools, 18 60% reported having incidents of students posting unprofessional content online, with some violating patient confidentiality.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [18] 18. Chretien KC, Greysen AR, Chretien J-P, et al. Online posting of unpro- fessional content by medical students. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2009;302:1309-15. source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Natural personal barriers exist between learners and teachers at all levels, and these barriers may break down with extensive friending.

    “Natural personal barriers exist between learners and teachers at all levels, and these barriers may break down with extensive”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [22] 22. Chretien KC, Farnan JM, Greysen SR, Kind T. To friend or not friend? Social networking and faculty perceptions of online professionalism. Aca- demic Medicine 2011;86:1545-50. source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Online friendships with patients may lead to potentially problematic physician self-disclosure.

    “Guseh et al. 20 reported that these”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [20] 20. Guseh II JS, Brendel RW, Brendel DH. Medical professionalism in the age of online social networking. Journal of Medical Ethics 2009;35: 584-6. source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    When queried about hypothetical receipt of a friend request from a patient, none of the French residents and fellows reported they would automatically accept, 85% would automatically decline, and 15% would make decisions on an individual basis.

    “When queried about the hypothetical receipt of a friend request from a patient, none of the French residents and fellows reported they would automatically accept a friend request from a patient, 85% reported they would automatically decline such a request, and 15% reported they would make decisions on an individual basis.21”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [21] 21. Moubarak G, Guiot A, Benhamou Y, Benhamou A, Hariri S. Facebook activity of residents and fellows and its impact on the doctor-patient rela- tionship. Journal of Medical Ethics. December 15, 2010. Online first. Avail- able at: http://jme.bmj.com/content/early/2010/11/07/jme.2010.036293? q= w jme ahead tab source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Interacting with patients on social networking sites can create potential clinical and ethical dilemmas.

    “Guseh et al. 20 warned that interacting with patients on social networking sites can create potential clinical and ethical dilemmas.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [20] 20. Guseh II JS, Brendel RW, Brendel DH. Medical professionalism in the age of online social networking. Journal of Medical Ethics 2009;35: 584-6. source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The Federation of State Medical Board guidelines include interacting with patients, discussion of medicine online, privacy/confidentiality, disclosure, posting content, professionalism, and medical board sanctions and disciplinary findings.

    “The Federation of State Medical Board guidelines include interacting with patients, discussion of medicine online, privacy/confidentiality, disclosure, posting content, professionalism, and medical board sanctions and disciplinary findings.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [39] 39. Federation of State Medical Boards. Model policy guidelines for the appro- priate use of social media and social networking in medical practice. Avail- able at: http://www.fsmb.org/pdf/pub-social-media-guidelines.pdf. Ac- cessed July 11, 2012.

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The prominence and frequency of use of social media in the lives of current learners illustrate the need for e-professionalism to be included in the definition, teaching, and evaluation of contemporary medical professionalism.

    “The prominence and frequency of use of social media in the lives of current learners illustrate the need for e-professionalism to be included in the definition, teaching, and evaluation of contemporary medical professionalism.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationcitation

    An organization's reputation depends on the attitudes, behavior, and work ethic of its individual members, who may include learners in medical education.

    “An organization's reputation depends on the attitudes, behavior, and work ethic of its individual members, who may include learners in medical education.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Violations of professionalism via social media involve lapses in integrity or honesty, morality and ethics, self-regulation, responsibility to society, and responsibility to the profession.

    “These violations of professionalism involve lapses in integrity or honesty, morality and ethics, self-regulation, responsibility to society, and responsibility to the profession.25”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [25] 25. Steinert Y, Cruess S, Cruess R, Snell L. Faculty development for teaching and evaluating professionalism: From programme design to curriculum change. Medical Education 2005;39:127-36. source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    E-professionalism is an essential and increasingly important element of professional identity formation in medical education.

    “Because e-professionalism includes an online persona, 2 e-professionalism is an essential and increasingly important element of professional identity formation in medical education.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [2] 2. Cain J, Romanelli F. E-professionalism: A new paradigm for a digital age. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning 2009;1:66-70. source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Communication that may be innocuous in traditionally private settings can be judged differently when made available to the online public.

    “Cain 23 cautioned that communication that may be innocuous in traditionally private settings can be judged differently when made available to the online public.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [23] 23. Cain J. Social media in health care: The case for organizational policy and employee education. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy 2011;68:1036-40. source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Discourse in social media is accessible to a much wider and often unknown audience and can linger in perpetuity.

    “Discourse in social media is accessible to a much wider and often unknown audience and can linger in perpetuity.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Posting digital media identifying a particular institution may be interpreted as an endorsement by that institution, and thus affect that institution's reputation.

    “Posting digital media identifying a particular institution may be interpreted as an endorsement by that institution, 24 and thus affect that institution's reputation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [24] 24. Farnan JM, Paro JAM, Higa JT, et al. The relationship status of dig- ital media and professionalism: It's complicated. Academic Medicine 2009;84:1479-81. source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    These policies do not address online interactions with learners.

    “Because these policies do not address online interactions with learners, Farnan and Arora 12 advised maintaining professionalonly relationships with trainees on social media platforms as the safest current stance.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [12] 12. Farnan JM, Arora VM. Blurring boundaries and online opportunities. Jour- nal of Clinical Ethics 2011;22:183-6. source
24 of 24

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Many health professionals and medical students engage with others on social media in an unprofessional and inappropriate way and have encountered problems with their online identities.

    “Studies have found that many health professionals and medical students engage with others on SM in an unprofessional and inappropriate way and have encountered problems with their online identities (17, 18).”

    From Identifying social media professionalism competencies in Vietnamese medical students: a modified Delphi method (2026) · cites this paper as [18]

    The Social Media and Generational Differences section reports that 60% of surveyed U.S. medical schools had incidents of students posting unprofessional content online, some leading to dismissal. The Sequelae of Social Media Postings section also describes professional sanctions for inappropriate social-media use. These passages support unprofessional conduct and consequences, but do not establish that many individual health professionals and students engaged in inappropriate interactions with others or encountered problems with their online identities. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Because they grew up sharing information through electronic media, 'digital natives' may struggle to separate their personal and professional lives.

    “Kaczmarcyzk and colleagues 18 cautioned that, due to growing up sharing all types of information, personal and otherwise, using electronic media, it may be difficult for these 'digital natives' to develop boundaries that separate their personal lives from their professional lives.”

    From What is appropriate to post on social media? <scp>R</scp> atings from students, faculty members and the public (2014) · cites this paper as [18]

  • There is suspicion and pessimism among social media users about what is truly private.

    “Including members of the public in the study is key because there is suspicion and pessimism among social media users as to what is truly private.”

    From What is appropriate to post on social media? <scp>R</scp> atings from students, faculty members and the public (2014) · cites this paper as [18]

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education . Common Program Requirements: General Competencies Available at: http://www.acgme.org/acwebsite/home/common_program_requirements_07012011.pdf. Accessed July 14, 2012
  2. Kirkpatrick , M . Facebook hits 100 million users . ReadWriteWeb , August 25, 2008. Available at: http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/facebook_hits_100_million_user.php. Accessed July 14, 2012
  3. Esposito , J . Social media stats for C-Suite . Social Media Today , Available at: http://socialmediatoday.com/jeffesposito/310611/30-social-media-stats-c-suite. Accessed July 14, 2012
  4. Social Media Governance . Policy database Available at: http://socialmediagovernance.com/policies.php. Accessed July 14, 2012
  5. Mayo , Clinic . Participation guidelines for Mayo Clinic Employees Available at: http://sharing.mayoclinic.org/guidelines/for-mayo-clinic-employees/ Accessed July 14, 2012
  6. Kaiser Permanente . Kaiser Permanente Social Media Policy Available at: http://xnet.kp.org/newscenter/media/downloads/socialmediapolicy_091609.pdf. Accessed July 14, 2012
  7. Sutter Health . Sutter Health and affiliate guidelines for participation in online communities Available at: http://www.sutterhealth.org/employees/sutter-health-social-media-policy.pdf. Accessed July 14, 2012
  8. American Medical Association . AMA policy: Professionalism in the use of social media Available at: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/meeting/professionalism-social-media.shtml. Accessed July 14, 2012

Cited by

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Related

Authors
Kaczmarczyk, J. M., Chuang, A., Dugoff, L., Abbott, J. F., Cullimore, A. J., Dalrymple, J., Davis, K. R., Hueppchen, N. A., Katz, N. T., Nuthalapaty, F. S., Pradhan, A., Wolf, A., & Casey, P. M.
Affiliations
  • Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (US)
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
  • University of Pennsylvania (US)
  • Boston University (US)
  • McMaster University (CA)
  • The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (US)
  • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (US)
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine (US)
  • Prisma Health (US)
  • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
  • Thomas Jefferson University (US)
  • Mayo Clinic (US)
ORCID
Venue
Teaching and Learning in Medicine
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2013-03-26
Volume
25
Issue
2
Pages
165-170
ISSN
  • 1040-1334 (ISSN-L)
  • 1532-8015
DOI
10.1080/10401334.2013.770741
OpenAlex
W2066998905
Cited by
94
References
31
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 2
FWCI
7.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Teaching and Learning in Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Digital Commons - PCOM (Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Social Media in Health Education
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Medical Education
Keywords
e-professionalism, medical professionalism, social media, professional identity formation, medical curriculum, digital media, academic sanctions, obstetrics and gynecology education
MeSH terms
Education, Medical, Ethics, Professional, Humans, Organizational Policy, Internet, Social Networking, Social Media

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Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-11.

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