The DOI matches its Crossref record; 7 of the 7 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Itʼs Your Own Risk: Medical Studentsʼ Perspectives on Online Professionalism
Abstract
BACKGROUND: U.S. medical schools have reported unprofessional online content by medical students. To inform institutional policies and curricula, we conducted a qualitative study exploring medical student perspectives on online posting. METHOD: Six focus groups were conducted with students from a single institution in November 2009. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative methods. RESULTS: Sixty-four students participated. Besides HIPAA violations and illegal activities, students disagreed as to what was inappropriate to post. They experienced online identity conflicts and described ambivalence toward Facebook. Students were concerned about online activity risks and lack of personal control. Their postings were guided by common sense and what they believed was expected from medical students. Students desired recommendations for appropriate content and suggested raising awareness through discussion. CONCLUSIONS: Medical students viewed online postings through a lens of personal risk. They desired recommendations but were sensitive to feeling controlled by their school.
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In the citing paper
“Further, important differences exist in perceptions of inappropriate SM behavior among various stakeholders.”
From Perceptions of Unprofessional Social Media Behavior Among Emergency Medicine Physicians (2017) · cites this paper as [14]
In the citing paper
“Medical students often regard themes of speech, alcohol, and dress as components of online '' social identity '' rather than potential unprofessional behavior. 13,14”
From Perceptions of Unprofessional Social Media Behavior Among Emergency Medicine Physicians (2017) · cites this paper as [14]
In the citing paper
“Medical students often regard themes of speech, alcohol, and dress as components of online ‘‘social identity’’ rather than potential unprofessional behavior [154,155].”
From Dangers and Benefits of Social Media on E-Professionalism of Health Care Professionals: Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [155]
In the citing paper
“It seems that consensus about what constitutes unprofessional behavior, even evoked as a question since Chretien et al’s [155] study in 2010, has still not been reached.”
From Dangers and Benefits of Social Media on E-Professionalism of Health Care Professionals: Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [155]
In the citing paper
“Despite this meteoric rise in use, the perspectives of students regarding the appropriate utilization of this technology (as well as their current practices) have not been well explored. 21”
From Beyond Good and Evil: Exploring Medical Trainee Use of Social Media (2012) · cites this paper as [21]
In the citing paper
“Studies have found that medical students are generally facile with social media but are eager for their institutions to provide professional guidance and direction. 21”
From Beyond Good and Evil: Exploring Medical Trainee Use of Social Media (2012) · cites this paper as [21]
In the citing paper
“A 2010 qualitative study found that, with the exception of HIPAA violations and illegal behaviours, there was no consensus among medical students for what constitutes unprofessional behaviour.12”
From What is appropriate to post on social media? Ratings from students, faculty members and the public (2014) · cites this paper as [12]
In the citing paper
“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? Ratings from students, faculty members and the public (2014) · cites this paper as [12]
In the citing paper
“With the blurring of personal and professional content online, there remains less certainty about what constitutes appropriate professional behaviors online, and these opinions differ between medical students and faculty and even among medical education faculty.5,6,38”
From Social Media and Clinical Care: Ethical, Professional, and Social Implications (2013) · cites this paper as [38]
Citations
Cites
Focus Groups as Qualitative Research
Morgan, D. (1997) · doi:10.4135/9781412984287 · Cited by 8,863
Identity, identification and medical education: why should we care?
Monrouxe, L. V. (2009) · Medical Education · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2923.2009.03440.x · Cited by 733
Online Posting of Unprofessional Content by Medical Students
Chretien, K. C. (2009) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.2009.1387 · Cited by 448
Self-citationThe Intersection of Online Social Networking with Medical Professionalism
Thompson, L. A., Dawson, K., Ferdig, R., Black, E. W., Boyer, J., Coutts, J., & Black, N. P. (2008) · Journal of General Internal Medicine · doi:10.1007/s11606-008-0538-8 · Cited by 425
Content of Weblogs Written by Health Professionals
Lagu, T., Kaufman, E. J., Asch, D. A., & Armstrong, K. (2008) · Journal of General Internal Medicine · doi:10.1007/s11606-008-0726-6 · Cited by 255
Medical professionalism in the age of online social networking
Guseh, J. S., Brendel, R. W., & Brendel, D. H. (2009) · Journal of Medical Ethics · doi:10.1136/jme.2009.029231 · Cited by 165
Commentary: The Relationship Status of Digital Media and Professionalism: Itʼs Complicated
Farnan, J. M., Paro, J. A. M., Higa, J. T., Reddy, S. T., Humphrey, H. J., & Arora, V. M. (2009) · Academic Medicine · doi:10.1097/acm.0b013e3181bb17af · Cited by 68
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Kogan, L. R., Hellyer, P. W., Stewart, S. M., Hendrickson, D. A., Dowers, K. L., & Schoenfeld-Tacher, R. M. (2015) · Journal of Veterinary Medical Education · doi:10.3138/jvme.0315-032r1
Weijs, C. A. (2016) · The Atrium (University of Guelph)
Precarious Healthcare Professionalism in the Age of Social Media
Neville, P. (2017) · Prekarisierung und soziale Entkopplung · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-17678-5_12
Guidelines for the responsible use of social media by nursing students
Nyangeni, T. (2015) · Nelson Mandela University Research Repository
Trede, F., Markauskaitė, L., McEwen, C., & Macfarlane, S. (2019) · Understanding teaching-learning practice · doi:10.1007/978-981-13-7410-4_5
Rukavina, T. V., Poplašen, L. M., Majer, M., Relić, D., Viskić, J., & Marelić, M. (2021) · doi:10.2196/preprints.35585
Mafinejad, M. K., Kadivar, M., Asghari, F., Jannat, Z., & Hadizadeh, N. (2023) · Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine · doi:10.18502/jmehm.v15i10.11566
Delphi consensus on add-ons and social midia in Assisted Reproductive Technology
Ceschin, A. P., Petracco, Á., Borges, E., Cordts, E. B., Nakagawa, H. M., de Souza, M. D. C. B., Caldas, M. M. P., Busso, N. E., de Sá, P. G., Monteleone, P. A. A., et al. (2023) · JBRA · doi:10.5935/1518-0557.20230047
E-Professionalism in Dental Education
Mani, S. A., John, J., Uma, E., & Nieminen, P. A. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-97-0275-6_6-1
Metadata
- Authors
- Chretien, K. C., Goldman, E. F., Beckman, L., & Kind, T.
- Corresponding author
- Chretien, Katherine C.
- Venue
- Academic Medicine
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2010-10
- Volume
- 85
- Issue
- 10 Suppl
- Pages
- S68-S71
- ISSN
- 1040-2446 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2295911421
- Cited by
- 111
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 9.85
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Academic Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Social Media in Health Education
- Social Sciences › Education › Innovations in Medical Education
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Keywords
- medical students, online professionalism, social media, Facebook, online posts, professional conduct, individual risk, online identity, student perceptions, medical education policy
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attitude of Health Personnel, Female, Humans, Male, Professional Competence, Students, Medical, United States, Focus Groups, Internet
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