title: Health 2.0-Lessons Learned: Social Networking With Patients for Health Promotion.
abstract: The advent of social networking as a major platform for human interaction has introduced a new dimension into the physician-patient relationship, known as Health 2.0. The concept of Health 2.0 is young and evolving; so far, it has meant the use of social media by health professionals and patients to personalize health care and promote health education. Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter offer promising platforms for health care providers to engage patients. Despite the vast potential of Health 2.0, usage by health providers remains relatively low. Using a pilot study as an example, this commentary reviews the ways in which physicians can effectively harness the power of social networking to meaningfully engage their patients in primary prevention.
authors: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada suparna.sharma@mail.utoronto.ca.
authors: Suparna
authors: S
authors: Sharma
authors: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Reena
authors: R
authors: Kilian
authors: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Fok-Han
authors: FH
authors: Leung
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006040:Goals; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017010:Reminder Systems; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D060756:Social Networking
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: family medicine; health promotion; prevention; primary care; social networking