Assessing the Adoption and Use of Social Media for Health Practice among Healthcare Professionals in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The use of social media for personal and organisational communication has grown exponentially in the past few years. For health practitioners, social media has become significant in advancing their practice.

Objectives: The study's crux is to explore the perspectives of health practitioners in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, regarding the adoption and use of social media in their field.

Methodology: The researchers adopted a qualitative approach in this study. 20 interviews were conducted while a structured interview guide was used as the instrument for data collection.  Data was presented using the narrative format.

Results: Social media is a valuable tool for sharing knowledge, building professional connections, and fostering personal growth. Additionally, it can be utilised to advocate for health-related matters, stay informed on the latest developments, maintain communication with patients and conduct research. Findings also indicate that the use of social media for health awareness and practice is challenged by time, breach of patient confidentiality, abuse of practitioner-patient relationships, lack of clear social media policy framework, poor network, shortage of power supply, high cost of data and modern communication facilities.

Unique Contribution: The study establishes that health practitioners in Jos, Plateau State Nigeria appreciate the usefulness of social media to their practice. The respondents, however, identified some challenges in the use of social media for professional engagements.

Conclusion:  The study concludes that social media is significant to health practitioners in enhancing their services; it is also constrained by poor infrastructural facilities and breach of patient confidentiality, among others.

Recommendation:  Those in charge of health institutions in Nigeria should organise workshops and seminars to improve understanding, skills and utilisation of social media in the country’s healthcare settings. The government is also required to provide basic infrastructure and policies that support the use of social media for health practice in the country.