Microtia and Social Media: How Can We Help Our Patients?

Abstract

In today's digital era, the intersection of social media and healthcare has emerged as a valuable tool for medical communication and education. However, the use of social media among microtia families has not been thoroughly explored in literature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of microtia surgeons on social media, the attitudes of microtia families towards physician social media use, and the motivations behind social media usage among microtia families. This study employed a cross-sectional survey methodology. Self-administered questionnaires were used to assess microtia families present in dedicated Instagram and Facebook groups, whereas the presence of microtia surgeons was assessed through responses from an official WhatsApp group. The findings reveal a significant disparity between the demand for microtia surgeons' social media presence and their actual engagement. Although 90.5% of microtia family respondents believed that microtia surgeons should have a presence on social media platforms, only 46.0% of microtia surgeons maintained an active presence. Of microtia families, 55% expressed that they used social media both to facilitate interactions with other families and explore treatment options. Microtia surgeons more often utilized Instagram and Twitter than microtia families. Of microtia families, 40.5% reported using a combination of social media platforms, most often Facebook. This study underscores the increasing reliance on social media for medical information. By increasing their social media presence, microtia surgeons can not only enhance patient education and satisfaction but also contribute to the broader landscape of medical communication and education in the digital age.