University of Warwick, Coventry, West Midlands CV4 7AL, UK.
Soc Sci Med. 2012 Dec;75(12):2233-41. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.08.023. Epub 2012 Sep 1.
With the rapid growth of online social networking for health, health care systems are experiencing an inescapable increase in complexity. This is not necessarily a drawback; self-organising, adaptive networks could become central to future health care delivery. This paper considers whether social networks composed of patients and their social circles can compete with, or complement, professional networks in assembling health-related information of value for improving health and health care. Using the framework of analysis of a two-sided network--patients and providers--with multiple platforms for interaction, we argue that the structure and dynamics of such a network has implications for future health care. Patients are using social networking to access and contribute health information. Among those living with chronic illness and disability and engaging with social networks, there is considerable expertise in assessing, combining and exploiting information. Social networking is providing a new landscape for patients to assemble health information, relatively free from the constraints of traditional health care. However, health information from social networks currently complements traditional sources rather than substituting for them. Networking among health care provider organisations is enabling greater exploitation of health information for health care planning. The platforms of interaction are also changing. Patient-doctor encounters are now more permeable to influence from social networks and professional networks. Diffuse and temporary platforms of interaction enable discourse between patients and professionals, and include platforms controlled by patients. We argue that social networking has the potential to change patterns of health inequalities and access to health care, alter the stability of health care provision and lead to a reformulation of the role of health professionals. Further research is needed to understand how network structure combined with its dynamics will affect the flow of information and potentially the allocation of health care resources.
随着在线社交网络在健康领域的快速发展，医疗保健系统面临着不可避免的复杂性增加。这不一定是一个缺点；自组织、自适应的网络可能成为未来医疗保健提供的核心。本文考虑了由患者及其社交圈组成的社交网络是否可以与专业网络竞争或互补，以收集有价值的健康相关信息，从而改善健康和医疗保健。本文使用由患者和提供者组成的双边网络分析框架，以及多个互动平台，认为这种网络的结构和动态对未来的医疗保健具有重要意义。患者正在利用社交网络来获取和提供健康信息。在那些患有慢性疾病和残疾并参与社交网络的人中，有相当多的人在评估、组合和利用信息方面具有专业知识。社交网络为患者提供了一个新的环境来收集健康信息，相对不受传统医疗保健的限制。然而，来自社交网络的健康信息目前只是补充了传统来源，而不是替代它们。医疗保健提供者组织之间的网络连接正在使更多的健康信息能够被用于医疗保健规划。互动平台也在发生变化。医患接触现在更容易受到社交网络和专业网络的影响。分散和临时的互动平台使患者和专业人员之间能够进行对话，并且包括由患者控制的平台。我们认为，社交网络有可能改变健康不平等和获得医疗保健的模式，改变医疗保健提供的稳定性，并导致医疗保健专业人员角色的重新定义。需要进一步研究以了解网络结构如何与动态相结合，从而影响信息的流动，并可能影响医疗保健资源的分配。
