Adolescent and Young Adult Use of Social Media for Health and Its Implications.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To determine how adolescents and young adults (AYAs) use social media to share health information and to assess attitudes toward using social media to obtain health information and communicate with medical providers.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of AYAs, 12 years or older, attending a primary care adolescent and young adult clinic. Participants completed an anonymous survey about health-related social media use, personal health, and communication with their health care team.

Results

Of the 244 patients approached, 204 enrolled (83.6% participation rate). Almost all (98%) had used social media within the prior month, but only 51.5% had shared health information in these networks. These participants shared about mood (76.2%), wellness (57.1%), and acute medic

SUBMITTER: Hausmann JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5441939 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature