Social media: How far to reach?

Rural patients and caregivers have limited access to health care and to information and classes regarding their own disease progress, and also to specialists and support groups all of which would enhance their knowledge and quality of life.  In addition, these areas lack a breadth of health care providers that can be easily accessed, due to lack of transportation and distance concerns.  These patients and caregivers are now looking to on-line resources to provide answers.  But as we have learned in class, are these necessarily of a quality that we want to have our patients utilizing, do they truly educate on disease and processes, are they private and protect the patient's identity, if they wish.  Social media is being used with increasing frequency to advertise, educate and also provide real-time communication with patients and their caregivers.  The program explored in this article provided a set patient scenario which was taken through several different modalities to discover methods to overcome barriers and increase education and support to patients.  These modalities included EHR (electronic health records), telemedicine, social media and clinical decision support.

The standardized patient was one that was being discharge with right sided weakness and slurred speech after a stroke.  The patient and caregiver were interviewed regarding health care resources and technology available to them (online resources).  These resources were used as part of the plan during the modules.  Social media was one module and that became further separated into interactive networks ( Facebook, twitter, webinars, and chats), websites for education and further care information, and static networks (YouTube, Podcast).  The doctoral students were to research these areas on the Internet for viable resources for the patient in the scenario.  The students were able to provide viable examples of each type of social media that could be accessed by the patient and the caregiver.  There was care taken to insure that any information posted was protected for privacy. 

There were some concerns regarding the use of on-line technology.  Obviously, access was limited in some areas due to Broadband capabilities.  The students were able to trouble shoot some methods of access such as use of libraries, community centers and relatives for increased access.  They also recognized the need for education on appropriateness of Internet resources and also teaching regarding use of the social media resources in order to protect their privacy.  Literacy challenges were also supported through link to video and audio information.

Overall this article was very informative, not in the presentation of new information on technology, but the varying uses of technology and how, as educators and nurses, we can think out of the box to use every available resource to support our patients and their caregivers.  Once again, nurses must step up to the forefront and be advocates for patients, to support them where they are and to encourage the best care of the patient, even while broadening their own horizons regarding technology and health care.


Rutledge, C., Renaud, M., Shepard, L., et al. (2011).  Educating Advanced Practice nurses in using social media in rural health care.  International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship 8(1), 1-14.