title: Online professionalism and Facebook--falling through the generation gap.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Facebook is the most popular social networking site (SNS) worldwide. The growing popularity of SNSs brings 'e-professionalism' to the forefront.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess Facebook use, publicly accessible material and awareness of privacy guidelines and online professionalism by students, foundation year doctors (FYDs) and senior staff grades (SSGs).
  
  
  METHODS
  It was an ethical risk to access publicly available information online as many users do not appreciate the lack of privacy involved, therefore a cross-sectional survey was undertaken. Participants included 42 students, 20 FYDs and 20 SSGs from the Severn Deanery (UK).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 42 students and 20 FYDs had Facebook compared with 6 (30%) SSGs. Of these, 17 students (41%), 15 FYDs (75%) and 3 SSGs (50%) had public 'info pages'. 37 students (88%) reported colleagues behaving unprofessionally online with 16 FYDs (80%) but no SSGs. 32 students (76%) felt their professionalism was threatened online, alongside 18 FYDs (90%) and 2 SSGs (33%). Only 11 students (26%), 10 trainees (50%) and no SSGs were aware of guidelines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Professionals lack awareness of their professional vulnerability online. They are not careful in restricting access to their posted information and are not mindful that the principles of professionalism apply to SNSs.
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. ao7521@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wardle
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caesar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003219:Confidentiality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D008297:Male; D008503:Medical Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D024382:Professional Role; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult