Use of Social Media by Hospitals and Clinics in Japan: Descriptive Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The use of social media by hospitals has become widespread in the United States and Western European countries. However, in Japan, the extent to which hospitals and clinics use social media is unknown. Furthermore, recent revisions to the Medical Care Act may subject social media content to regulation.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine social media use in Japanese hospitals and clinics. We investigated the adoption of social media, analyzed social media content, and compared content with medical advertising guidelines.

Methods

We randomly sampled 300 hospitals and 300 clinics from a list of medical institutions that was compiled by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. We performed web and social media (Facebook and Twitter) searches

SUBMITTER: Sugawara Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7732712 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature