Thinking June 19th, 2023

Innovating digital healthcare through social media: Self-care in the hands of the user

By
Ensera Design

What is self-care?

Self-care is a term that we’re all well versed with. It’s a practice that has gained momentum in recent years, as people become ever more aware of the importance of taking care of themselves. With self-care involving any activity that we undertake to better our mental, emotional, and physical well-being, it can range from taking daily supplements, to practicing mindfulness and meditation. It’s an essential part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and it’s becoming increasingly popular for individuals to take ownership of their diagnosis and therapy.

Ownership of healthcare

Historically, individuals have relied on medical professionals to provide a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment plan. Although recent years have seen a lack of resource in the industry, and, inevitably, an impact on patient care. The Covid-19 pandemic was a major contributor to causes of this resource deficit, with the NHS crisis, and a resulting vacuum in public healthcare, being at the forefront of this problem. The consequential rise of self-care means that individuals can take a more active role in their own healthcare. They’re doing their own research, seeking out information about conditions, and taking steps to manage their symptoms. This social shift and the advancement in technology allows people to take control of their own health and well-being, turning to self-diagnosis due to the convenience against seeking out alternatives such as private healthcare. Digital healthcare holds strength in faster, cheaper, and more efficient healthcare practices. The most widely available digital information centres also exist on social media, with approximately 5 billion users worldwide*.

If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that healthcare and social media can be a very powerful combination.

- Claire Beveridge

The influence of social media

Social media has had a significant impact on healthcare, making it easier for people to connect with others who have similar experiences, find information about conditions, and access support. It has also played a crucial role in mental health awareness and has allowed people to share their stories and raise awareness, as well as reducing stigma.Although the instant access to information also means that social media can also be misleading and it can be challenging to determine what is accurate and what isn’t. Some individuals may be posting about their experience with a particular condition without having the necessary expertise or qualifications. This can be dangerous, as it can lead to misinformation and potentially harmful advice.

Whilst social media undoubtedly has a wide reach, there are those excluded from its convenience. Political, economic, and geographical differences pose, individuals may be unable to access social media, and are invisible to any initiatives communicating through online channels.

Opportunities in digital healthcare

Despite these potential pitfalls, social media can still be a valuable tool for healthcare. It can be used to lead digital healthcare innovations that can benefit individuals around the world. A current trend in digital healthcare involves platforms that connect individuals with qualified medical professionals. This allows people to receive a diagnosis and treatment plan from the comfort of their own home. It could also enable doctors to monitor their patients remotely, ensuring that they are receiving the care they need.Emerging digital pathways to healthcare are already becoming available. BetterHelp is a platform that aims to make professional therapy more ‘accessible, affordable, and convenient’, using the power of digitalised healthcare to assist users ‘anytime and anywhere’. Digital platforms such as Balance also aim to educate individuals with the accessible libraries of information. At present, Balance is the “world’s biggest menopause library”, all accessible to users online.

With a vast number of patients struggling to access healthcare, facing hurdles such as transportation, cost, and time constraints, this can have serious consequences for health outcomes. It’s clear that there’s a real opportunity to digitalise the healthcare journey and introduce digitalised innovation to ease the lives of patients and support the healthcare system. In parallel, social media programs offer the ability to raise awareness, combat misinformation and expand reach. Building on these explored areas in digital healthcare, an opportunity for innovation could exist within AI-powered virtual assistance. This allows users to receive personalised support and guidance anytime, anywhere. This leverages the accessibility of digital technology to enhance patient independence in healthcare processes. This could exist within a social media platform to facilitate communication with professionals – streamlined by access to data collected by the AI.

Ultimately, the integration of social media and digitalisation presents opportunities for innovative self-care healthcare solutions. Digital technology and social media platforms can help enhance accessibility in healthcare – bridging the gap between the convenience of independent self-care and digital solutions with professional guidance and infrastructure. Addressing challenges such as misinformation and verification of information available to patients will be crucial in developing stable and reliable digital self-care solutions that empower individuals across their healthcare journey.

Click here to learn more about digital at Ensera

*https://www.demandsage.com/social-media-users

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