Journal of Asia Pacific Aesthetic Sciences

Abstract: The rise of social media has significantly transformed how people communicate and share information, including within the medical field. In dermatology, practitioners increasingly use social media to engage with patients and disseminate medical knowledge. This study examined dermatologists’ preferences and usage patterns of social media for professional purposes and assessed their perceptions of its advantages and disadvantages in practice in the Philippines. In this cross-sectional study, 279 dermatologists including residents, diplomates, and fellows completed an online questionnaire on their social media usage and perceptions, and the responses were statistically analysed using SPSS. Most respondents were board-certified dermatologists (diplomates and fellows), with 53.41% in solo practice and 41.22% in group practices. The majority were female (86.02%), with a median age of 35.5 years. Among the surveyed dermatologists, 58.84% used social media for online consultations, and 51.26% used it to share health information. Facebook was the most commonly used platform for both purposes. In clinical practice, the majority of respondents reported that 20–40% of their patients were referred through social media. Dermatologists strongly agreed that social media is a valuable tool for promoting collaboration among healthcare professionals, but they also expressed concerns about potential violations of patient confidentiality and privacy. Despite these risks, social media offers significant opportunities to provide reliable health information, enhance patient engagement, improve adherence to treatment plans, strengthen doctor-patient relationships, and foster professional networking. To maximize these benefits, dermatologists must safeguard patient privacy, ensure information accuracy and credibility, and adhere to ethical guidelines established by their professional societies and countries. Responsible and informed use of social media is essential to harness its potential for improving dermatology practice and patient care.

Keywords: Social media, Dermatologist, Digital healthcare, Facebook, Instagram, Teledermatology, Patient education, Online marketing