Positive online health behavioursThe GMC social media guidelines [3] suggest that doctors’ use of social media can benefit patient care by:

• Engaging people in public health and policy discussions.
• Establishing national and international professional networks.
• Facilitating patients’ access to information about health and services.

A 2011 report on use of the Internet in Britain by Oxford Internet Surveys noted that searching for health information had risen to an estimated 71% of the population (compared to 68% in 2007 and 37% in 2005).

The report also found that 48% of Next Generation Users – someone accessing the Internet from multiple locations and devices – had found information online that had helped to improve their health [18]. Introduction Home Content Glossary Help Back Next