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Healthy Today, Healthy Tomorrow

Nov

10

Is TikTok a Good Source of Health Information?


The TikTok app has a special section for doctors where they may offer a variety of healthcare-related advice and material. One study examined the accuracy of diabetes-related information being shared on TikTok, and it was published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

Professional hazards

There are medical professionals who use TikTok and buy tiktok views to inform consumers and debunk medical fallacies, but there are other medical professionals whose usage of the site may harm rather than advance their professions.

Doctors that utilize TikTok with the goal of educating and disseminating accurate, timely health information inspire other medical professionals to follow their example. The community rules of TikTok, which forbid harmful disinformation, aid physicians in their efforts to provide competent care to the app’s users.

The pitfalls of social media

Creating material for applications like TikTok exposes doctors to certain professional hazards, but they do have some control over those dangers.

Do not straddle the lines. While keeping an online presence may test some doctors’ ethical standards, doing so is essential.

Concentrate on facts about overall health. Don’t provide them medical advice that is specific to them. Keep your material generic instead, and be sure to inform your audience of this.

Patients’ privacy should be respected. Your social media presence comes after the privacy of your patients. Think about whether you should share anecdotes from your practice before sharing them.

Conflicts of interest should be avoided. Third-party-funded sponsored content accounts for a sizable chunk of income for internet influencers. But by supporting their material, doctors must be careful not to enter into a conflict of interest.

Doctors are active users of TikTok, producing material that dispels medical myths, builds trust among young viewers, and fosters an atmosphere where health education is easily accessible.

TikTok can help contra the process of being a doctor, but doctors risk damaging their professional image by making fun of their patients or providing data that isn’t theirs to disclose.

It is preferable for physicians to offer educational content on TikTok while upholding their professional boundaries online: Share only general information, preserve patients’ privacy, and avoid conflicts of interest.

 

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