title: Pharmacists' perceptions of professionalism on social networking sites.
abstract: Social networking sites (SNS) are a new venue for communication, and health care professionals, like the general population, are using them extensively. However, their behavior on SNS may influence public perceptions about their professionalism.
  
  
  
  This study explored how pharmacists separate professional and personal information and activities on SNS, their perceptions of professional behavior on SNS, and opinions on guidelines in this area.
  
  
  
  In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with international practising pharmacists (n = 31) recruited from a range of countries (n = 9). Initially, pharmacists known to the research team were invited, and thereafter, participants were recruited using a snowballing technique. The interviews lasted from 30 to 120 min. All interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed.
  
  
  
  A majority of participants mixed professional and personal information and activities on SNS, and about one third adopted a separation strategy where professional information and activities were clearly separated from personal ones (e.g. two different SNS accounts, or one particular SNS for professional use and another platform for personal purposes). Most participants expressed concern over how pharmacists present themselves and behave in SNS when they reported (un)professional behaviors of peers they had observed. Examples of perceived unprofessional behaviors included revealing details of personal life and activities; open complaints about the pharmacy sector, co-workers, physicians, and patients; inappropriate description of pharmacists' roles and activities; and breaches of patient confidentiality. Positive professional behaviors, such as expression of compassion for patients, examples of effective patient management, promotion of pharmacists' role, and correction of misleading health information being spread online were also observed. There was no consensus on having professional social media guidelines. Some preferred SNS to be unregulated while most believed certain guidance was needed to maintain high professional standards in the online environment.
  
  
  
  A definitive strategy to separate professional and personal information and activities on SNS was not adopted by most pharmacists. E-professionalism issues could negatively impact on the standing of individual practitioners and the profession. Most agreed that education about SNS use would be beneficial; however, support for guidelines or regulations for pharmacists' use of SNS was not unanimous.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, Pharmacy and Bank Building A15, NSW 2006, Australia; Pharmacy Practice, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, Parana 84030-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Arcelio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benetoli
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, Pharmacy and Bank Building A15, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Timothy F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Master Programme "Consumer Health Care" at Charité University Medicine Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 115, D-10115 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, Pharmacy and Bank Building A15, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chaar
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, Pharmacy and Bank Building A15, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: parisa.aslani@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Parisa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aslani
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D024382:Professional Role; D000068616:Professionalism; D061108:Social Media
keywords: Facebook; Pharmacists; Pharmacy; Professionalism; Social media; Social networking sites