Why Do Health Care Professionals Use Social Media In Canada?

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According to the latest data and information from the Canadian Internet Registration Authority or CIRA, Canada is one of the most wired countries today. Today, nearly 87 percent of households are wired, making it as one the Top 20 countries in the world in terms of internet penetration (2013). When ranged with other G8 members, Canada ranked second in the group, clearly highlighting the commitment and value of technology in the country. In terms of the number of web pages visited, the country also leads the world. And when it comes to the average number of hours spent online, the Canadians place second to the Americans. The data suggest that indeed, Canada is a highly wired country, and one that depends on the web and technology. With this data, it is no longer surprising to know that social media use is also prevalent among Canadians. But social sites like Twitter.com aren’t just used for entertainment and communications. Today, there’s a growing trend among health care professionals particularly licensed practical nurses to use social media to perform some of their roles for patients. Although it may seems that social media and health care provision are not compatible, the following uses and applications will help change minds and perspectives. Twitter …show more content…

For many nurses and doctors, social media particularly Twitter has become an attractive tool when it comes to advocacy work and building awareness. One nursing professional said that Twitter is the perfect tool to advance her support for an advocacy like mental illness. Stigma is one of the issues associated with mental illnesses, and this can be addressed by using social media like Twitter. Through the use of social media, anyone can support initiatives, or use the platform to provide support to those who live with this health