Analysis of Healthcare Professionals’ and Institutions’ Roles in Twitter Colostomy Information

Abstract

Social media represents a powerful tool for disseminating verified health information on topics such as colostomy, and the roles of healthcare professionals and institutions to ensure the veracity of the information conveyed is increasingly relevant. The main objectives of this study were to analyze the roles of these healthcare professionals and institutions in the conversation about colostomy, without being framed in a specific health communication campaign, and to know the use of reliable information in the conversation. We emphasize the responsibility of institutions for health education and the need for professionals to improve communication skills on social networks, but also the need to improve communication skills on social media to support public health campaigns through these increasingly important channels.