Surveying the Landscape of Social Media Usage for Health Care by Otolaryngology Patients

Objective To determine factors associated with social media usage for finding a doctor or seeking medical advice among otolaryngology patients. Methods Cross‐sectional study of 361 patients visiting our clinics. All participants were asked if they were aware social media may be used to find doctors and if they had ever done so, and also if they were aware social media could be used to get advice about a medical condition or its treatment and if they had ever done so. Demographic characteristics were examined for association with affirmative answers to these questions. Results Facebook was the most used social media platform with 50.7% using Facebook daily. Over 50% of participants were aware social media could be used to find a doctor or seek medical advice. Daily use of Facebook was associated with using social media for finding a doctor (OR = 2.57, 95%CI: 1.41–4.67, p = 0.002) and seeking medical advice (OR = 1.72, 95%CI: 1.09–2.71, p = 0.020). Having Medicare was associated with using social media to find a doctor (OR = 2.20, 95%CI: 1.15–4.21, p = 0.017), whereas Medicaid was associated with using social media for medical advice (OR = 1.99, 95%CI: 1.08–3.67, p = 0.027). Conclusion A majority of otolaryngology patients may be aware of health care applications of social media, with Facebook being the dominant platform, and Medicare insurance identifying patients who may most use social media in this manner. There is also an indication that social determinants of health, as reflected by Medicaid insurance, may be associated with using social media to seek medical advice. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 133:2116–2121, 2023 The objective of this study was to determine the extent of social media usage for finding a doctor or seeking medical advice among otolaryngology patients, and to identify factors associated with this social media usage. We found that a majority of otolaryngology patients may be aware of healthcare applications of social media, with Facebook being the dominant platform, and Medicare insurance identifying patients who may most use social media in this manner. There is also indication that social determinants of health, as reflected by Medicaid insurance, may be associated with using social media to seek medical advice.