The Rise of Social Media & Participatory Medicine

[Commentary] Many have documented the shift from a paternalistic approach to medicine to a patient-centered approach, with greater participation by patients in their care decisions. The Internet has encouraged participation in health care for almost two decades. The Association of Cancer Online Resources in 1995 became one of the earliest groups to use listservs specific to different cancer types.

Now we are witnessing the rise of the e-patient, online advocates helping others to join participatory medicine. The joining of social media and participatory medicine can be observed throughout the stages of an illness, including:

• Diagnosis and information gathering;
• Finding a provider or second opinion;
• Accepting a diagnosis and entering a community;
• Participation in research; and
• Being an advocate.