The increasing role of electronic media in headache

BMC Neurology, 2023 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-023-03196-5 · Published: May 26, 2023

Simple Explanation

Social media platforms offer opportunities to share knowledge about headache management and treatment, benefiting patients. Professional headache organizations use social media to disseminate research findings to patients and healthcare providers. Misinformation on social media can lead to inadequate treatment and challenging patient-physician interactions.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Popular online content on migraine management is often not evidence-based and is disseminated by for-profit organizations.
2
Content from peers and patients are viewed more often and for a longer duration compared to videos from healthcare providers.
3
A social media strategy of Twitter promotion is associated with increased online visibility, outreach, and citations in scientific journals.

Research Summary

Social media offers an excellent opportunity to disseminate knowledge about headache management and treatment. There is a growing mistrust in science which has made dealing with infodemics an increasing part of clinical management. Future research should assess the range of available information on headache disorders in electronic media and identify strategies to improve communication on internet-based platforms.

Practical Implications

Improved Patient Education

Prioritizing patient education and knowledge dissemination can empower individuals to better manage their headache disorders.

Combating Misinformation

Healthcare professionals should actively engage on social media to provide evidence-based information and counter misinformation.

Enhanced Public Outreach

Professional organizations should adopt progressive social media strategies to increase online visibility and reach a wider audience.

Study Limitations

1
The study does not assess the quality of information available on all social media platforms.
2
The study does not provide a direct comparison of different social media strategies.
3
The study does not quantify the impact of social media on patient outcomes.

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