Impact of Social Media on the Professional Development of Health Professionals

The purpose of the study is to access the features of research on social media and professional development, the influence of various social media platforms on the learning and professional development of healthcare professionals (HCP), and the challenges related to using and managing social media (SM)quality control. PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar were the three databases searched with results spanning from 2009 to 2023. The recommended reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) criteria were adhered to during the search process. Only research published in English was included in the search method. Additional articles were also selected from the reference list of articles already selected. 32 articles, which were found more related to the topic were selected for study. Major characteristics of the research work studied are research methodologies; data collection tools; types of social media deployed; how social media promotes learning opportunities; challenges faced by SM-enabled HCPs and policies to overcome them for quality management. Social media can be an excellent tool for all kinds of HCPs to potentially improve the healthcare system by developing an online professional network to increase their professional knowledge as well as informing patients about various medical conditions and mitigating various myths and misconceptions.