Help Patients Navigate Online Support & Social Media

Moderator(s)

• 

  Michael LaValley, PhD

  Boston University School of Public Health

Speaker(s)

• 

  Rebecca Grainger, PhD, FRACP, MBChB

  University of Otago
• 

  Jilaine Bolek Berquist, MD

  SSM Dean Medical Group

People with rheumatic conditions are using the internet and apps to find information, learn, and engage with each other and their health practitioners. Health practitioners should be aware of these activities and, where helpful and appropriate, may provide support for, or participate in online activities. This session will cover the range of online and app-based activities for people with rheumatic diseases, including their purpose, benefits and risks. Faculty will explore published data on these tools to help participants identify the most useful technology and guide their patients, as well as a brief discussion on how to interact professionally with patients online in various social media platforms.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the range of online and app-based activities for people with rheumatic disease, including purpose, benefits and risks
• Appraise published data, frameworks and guidelines that assist physicians, healthcare professionals and people with rheumatic disease to identify the highest quality web content, websites and apps
• Describe online patient communities and support available on various social media platforms
• Use published data to help direct inquiring patients to high-quality and reputable support online
• Discuss professionalism pitfalls and practical strategies to interact with patients online

Presentations:

• 11:00 AM – 11:15 AM ET

  Your Digital Patients: Websites & Apps for People with Rheumatic Disease
  Rebecca Grainger, PhD, FRACP, MBChB – University of Otago
• 11:15 AM – 11:30 AM ET

  Your Digital Patients: Patient-Centered Social Media
  Jilaine Bolek Berquist, MD – SSM Dean Medical Group
• 11:30 AM – 11:45 AM ET

  Q&A