The use of social media as a relationship enhancement communication tool between medical practitioners and patients at Hlabisa Hospital

Abstract

Communication is a broad concept it is essential in both human and patient care relation and includes all possibilities in which people can exchange information with each other. Good medical practitioner and patient communication have the potential to help facilitate comprehension of medical information and allow for better identification of patient's needs, perceptions, and expectations. Poor communication by healthcare medical practitioners contributes to physical and psychological suffering in patients living a serious disease. Communication breakdowns are global in medicine and lead to a variety of medical errors and patient harm. This study explores the use of social media as a relationship enhancement communication between medical practitioners and patients. It intends to connecting/link positively and constructively the medical practitioner and patients via social media by considering medical ethics. The research will collect data from focus-groups and will include academic journals, books, newspapers, and Reports. The data will be analyzed using the computerized NVivo Software (version 12. Pro) and thematic analysis. The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the research methods and population study used with intention of investigating the use of social media as a relationship enhancement communication between medical practitioners and patients. Qualitative approach was used in this study to attain its objectives, 8 participants were used for the sample study of which 4 were patients and 2 were medical practitioners. For the main study 12 participants were used which included 8 patients and 4 medical practitioners. Participants from the sample study were not included in the main study. To conduct this research study non probability sampling will be used mainly because of convenience and cost effective. this study found that WhatsApp and Facebook are the most suitable or used social media platforms to be used at Hlabisa hospital to facilitate communication between medical practitioners and patients as well as an important medium to advertise significant wellness events. whoever will be responsible for the Hlabisa hospital social media platform must be strategic, be well informed, authentic and strategic. use listening skills to check understanding, understand cultural differences and how they might impact communication. Be empathetic toward the patients.