Social media and internet use among orthopedic patients in Germany—a multicenter survey
BackgroundSocial media (SM) is increasingly used in the healthcare system and offers various benefits for patients such as accessible health information and communication with other patients and healthcare professionals. However, SM also poses risks, including the dissemination of medical misinforma...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Digital Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1486296/full |
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| author | Yasmin Youssef Tu-Lan Vu-Han Tu-Lan Vu-Han Richard Trauth Georg Osterhoff David Alexander Back Tobias Gehlen Tobias Gehlen |
| author_facet | Yasmin Youssef Tu-Lan Vu-Han Tu-Lan Vu-Han Richard Trauth Georg Osterhoff David Alexander Back Tobias Gehlen Tobias Gehlen |
| author_sort | Yasmin Youssef |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundSocial media (SM) is increasingly used in the healthcare system and offers various benefits for patients such as accessible health information and communication with other patients and healthcare professionals. However, SM also poses risks, including the dissemination of medical misinformation and privacy concerns. This in turn can influence patients’ health-related decision-making and the patient-physician relationship. There is limited data regarding which SM orthopedic patients use and what benefits and risks of SM they perceive.MethodsAn online survey was conducted from April to December 2023 among orthopedic and trauma patients in five German orthopedic clinics. The questionnaire with 32 variables was designed to assess internet and SM usage patterns, platform preferences, and perceived benefits and risks. Statistical analysis was performed, including subgroup analyses.ResultsA total of 267 patients participated, with 82.0% reporting regular SM use. In total 45.9% of the patients used SM for general health questions and 51.3% for orthopedic-related questions. The most used information platforms were conventional websites, YouTube, Instagram, and messenger apps. A total of 45.9% used SM infrequently for general health questions, and 51.3% for orthopedic-related queries. Only 13.7% of patients agreed that SM helped in medical decision-making, and 31.1% felt confident in assessing the credibility of SM content. Additionally, 58.6% of patients were unsure about allowing physicians to present their cases on SM, and 62.3% were uncertain about posting their medical images.ConclusionAmong German orthopedic patients, the use of SM for health-related and gain of orthopedic information was low in the given study. While SM may offer valuable health information, their role in medical decision-making remains limited due to concerns over content credibility and privacy. Video-based content seems to achieve the best reach. Future research should explore these aspects longitudinally and across diverse populations to better understand and address the challenges and benefits of SM in healthcare. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-729b610851a743a38d76acb25e91f3c9 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-253X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Digital Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-729b610851a743a38d76acb25e91f3c92025-08-20T02:17:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Digital Health2673-253X2025-04-01710.3389/fdgth.2025.14862961486296Social media and internet use among orthopedic patients in Germany—a multicenter surveyYasmin Youssef0Tu-Lan Vu-Han1Tu-Lan Vu-Han2Richard Trauth3Georg Osterhoff4David Alexander Back5Tobias Gehlen6Tobias Gehlen7Department of Orthopedics, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, GermanyBerlin Institute of Health at Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BIH Biomedical Innovation Academy, Berlin, GermanyHessing Klinik, Augsburg, GermanyDepartment of Orthopedics, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, GermanyCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, GermanyMove Ahead—Foot, Ankle and Sportsclinic, Berlin, GermanyBackgroundSocial media (SM) is increasingly used in the healthcare system and offers various benefits for patients such as accessible health information and communication with other patients and healthcare professionals. However, SM also poses risks, including the dissemination of medical misinformation and privacy concerns. This in turn can influence patients’ health-related decision-making and the patient-physician relationship. There is limited data regarding which SM orthopedic patients use and what benefits and risks of SM they perceive.MethodsAn online survey was conducted from April to December 2023 among orthopedic and trauma patients in five German orthopedic clinics. The questionnaire with 32 variables was designed to assess internet and SM usage patterns, platform preferences, and perceived benefits and risks. Statistical analysis was performed, including subgroup analyses.ResultsA total of 267 patients participated, with 82.0% reporting regular SM use. In total 45.9% of the patients used SM for general health questions and 51.3% for orthopedic-related questions. The most used information platforms were conventional websites, YouTube, Instagram, and messenger apps. A total of 45.9% used SM infrequently for general health questions, and 51.3% for orthopedic-related queries. Only 13.7% of patients agreed that SM helped in medical decision-making, and 31.1% felt confident in assessing the credibility of SM content. Additionally, 58.6% of patients were unsure about allowing physicians to present their cases on SM, and 62.3% were uncertain about posting their medical images.ConclusionAmong German orthopedic patients, the use of SM for health-related and gain of orthopedic information was low in the given study. While SM may offer valuable health information, their role in medical decision-making remains limited due to concerns over content credibility and privacy. Video-based content seems to achieve the best reach. Future research should explore these aspects longitudinally and across diverse populations to better understand and address the challenges and benefits of SM in healthcare.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1486296/fullsocial mediadigitalizationpatientscommunicationorthopedics |
| spellingShingle | Yasmin Youssef Tu-Lan Vu-Han Tu-Lan Vu-Han Richard Trauth Georg Osterhoff David Alexander Back Tobias Gehlen Tobias Gehlen Social media and internet use among orthopedic patients in Germany—a multicenter survey Frontiers in Digital Health social media digitalization patients communication orthopedics |
| title | Social media and internet use among orthopedic patients in Germany—a multicenter survey |
| title_full | Social media and internet use among orthopedic patients in Germany—a multicenter survey |
| title_fullStr | Social media and internet use among orthopedic patients in Germany—a multicenter survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social media and internet use among orthopedic patients in Germany—a multicenter survey |
| title_short | Social media and internet use among orthopedic patients in Germany—a multicenter survey |
| title_sort | social media and internet use among orthopedic patients in germany a multicenter survey |
| topic | social media digitalization patients communication orthopedics |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1486296/full |
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