Where are you getting your information?
No surprise, the answer to this question is probably the Internet. What is surprising is that Facebook comes out on top as an info source for important health information. Hmmm…
The study
According to the article below, a group of researchers from Boston University gathered data from over 1,900 people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These were mostly young adults who use the Internet regularly. Participants were asked a range of questions about their media use, browsing habits, and where they got tips on how to manage their IBD.
The findings
- Most frequently used social media platform: Facebook
- Number who use social media at least once a week to find or post IBD-related content: over 30%
- Noteworthy takeaway: Study participants admitted they don’t trust it. While they use social media as an information source, they don’t actually have a lot of faith in what they’re reading.
Social media can be a great tool, a space for like-minded people to meet and exchange ideas. It can provide useful treatment options or new management techniques, and it shares information far and wide—for free. Most survey participants agreed that social media should be used to connect patients with IBD organizations and to obtain IBD information.
So there seems to be a disconnect between what people think should be happening and what’s actually happening online.
So what now?
What do you do when you come across a post shared by your cousin Betty’s husband’s best friend’s brother about drinking guava juice and vinegar to cure IBD? Better check the source.
Visit reputable websites for tips on disease management. A site solely dedicated to digestive disease management is even better. Healthcare centers, hospitals, IBD associations, or even medical professionals with reputable YouTube channels are a few examples. And if you found this post, you’re in a safe place. Browse our other articles and poke around VivanteHealth.com to your heart’s content.
