Survey of Individual and Institutional Risk Associated with the Use of Social Media
Open accessAbstract
INTRODUCTION: Residents and faculty in emergency medicine (EM) residency programs might be unaware of the professional and legal risks associated with the use of social media (SM). The objective of this study was to identify and characterize the types and reported incidence of unprofessional SM behavior by EM residents, faculty, and nurses and the concomitant personal and institutional risks. METHODS: This multi-site study used an 18-question survey tool that was distributed electronically to the leaders of multiple EM residency programs, members of the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors (CORD), and the residents of 14 EM programs during the study period May to June 2013. RESULTS: We received 1,314 responses: 772 from residents and 542 from faculty. Both groups reported encountering high-risk-to-professionalism events (HRTPE) related to SM use by residents and non-resident providers (NRPs), i.e., faculty members and nurses. Residents reported posting of one of the following by a resident peer or nursing colleague: identifiable patient information (26%); or a radiograph, clinical picture or other image (52%). Residents reported posting of images of intoxicated colleagues (84%), inappropriate photographs (66%), and inappropriate posts (73%). Program directors (PDs) reported posting one of the following by NRPs and residents respectively: identifiable patient information (46% and 45%); a radiograph, clinical picture or other image (63% and 58%). PDs reported that NRPs and residents posted images of intoxicated colleagues (64% and 57%), inappropriate photographs (63% and 57%), or inappropriate posts (76% and 67%). The directors also reported that they were aware of or issued reprimands or terminations at least once a year (30% NRPs and 22% residents). Residents were more likely to post photos of their resident peers or nursing colleagues in an intoxicated state than were NRPs (p=0.0004). NRPs were more likely to post inappropriate content (p=0.04) and identifiable patient information (p=0.0004) than were residents. CONCLUSION: EM residents and faculty members cause and encounter HRTPE frequently while using SM; these events present significant risks to the individuals responsible and their associated institution. Awareness of these risks should prompt responsible SM use and consideration of CORD's Social Media Task Force recommendations.
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These high-risk-to-professionalism events present significant risks to the individuals responsible and their associated institution.
“EM residents and faculty members cause and encounter high-risk-to-professionalism events frequently while using SM; these events present significant risks to the individuals responsible and their associated institution.”
From Dangers and Benefits of Social Media on E-Professionalism of Health Care Professionals: Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [116]
Unprofessional behavior on social media of health care professionals can have legal consequences, potentially affecting credibility and licensure.
“Unprofessional behavior on SM of HCPs can have legal consequences, potentially affecting credibility and licensure.”
From Dangers and Benefits of Social Media on E-Professionalism of Health Care Professionals: Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [116]
Emergency medicine residents and faculty members cause and encounter high-risk-to-professionalism events frequently while using social media.
“EM residents and faculty members cause and encounter high-risk-to-professionalism events frequently while using SM; these events present significant risks to the individuals responsible and their associated institution.”
From Dangers and Benefits of Social Media on E-Professionalism of Health Care Professionals: Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [116]
In addition to federal ramifications for medical institutions in regard to unprofessional conduct on social media by employees, the individuals responsible for high-risk-to-professionalism events face state licensing consequences.
“The authors emphasize that, in addition to federal ramifications for medical institutions in regard to unprofessional conduct on SM by employees, the individuals responsible for the high-risk-to-professionalism events face state licensing consequences.”
From Dangers and Benefits of Social Media on E-Professionalism of Health Care Professionals: Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [116]
Some observations and occurrences documented in Garg et al's study fall within the scope of HIPAA and put individuals and institutions at legal risk.
“Some of the observations and occurrences documented in that study fall within the scope of HIPAA and put individuals and institutions at legal risk.”
From Dangers and Benefits of Social Media on E-Professionalism of Health Care Professionals: Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [116]
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- Authors
- Garg, M.
- Affiliations
- Baylor College of Medicine (US)
- Corresponding author
- Garg, Manish
- ORCID
- Garg, Manish
- Venue
- Western Journal of Emergency Medicine
- Published
- 2016-05-27
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 344-349
- ISSN
- 1936-900X (ISSN-L)
- 1936-9018
- PMC
- PMC4899068
- OpenAlex
- W2346718334
- Cited by
- 21
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 2
- FWCI
- 3.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Western Journal of Emergency Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Social Media in Health Education
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Demography › Cyberloafing and Workplace Behavior
- Keywords
- social media use, professional conduct, emergency medicine residents, faculty, nurses, institutional risk, legal risk, patient privacy, health information disclosure, inappropriate content, program directors
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Emergency Medicine, Employee Discipline, Faculty, Medical, Female, Humans, Internship and Residency, Interprofessional Relations, Male, Physician Executives, Professional Competence, United States, Privacy, Professional Misconduct, Social Media
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