use of social media to promote health

USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO PROMOTE HEALTH: CASE STUDY OF THE MEDICAL CONCIERGE GROUP

Odokonyero Kennedy

Department of Pharmacy, Makerere University College of Health Sciences

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: +256-78836526614th IPSFAfrican Pharmaceutical Symposium 12/07/2015

mailto:[email protected]

Background

• The Medical Concierge Group (TMCG) was formed in August; 2013.

• It currently operates in Uganda and Kenya. • It’s working to promote health through increasing

access to health professionals, and health information as well as an affordable quality to health care.

• It has integrated call centers, social media sites such as facebook, twitter, Skype and whatsapp in its services.

• The group employs doctors and pharmacists which are available 24/7.

24th IPSFAfrican Pharmaceutical Symposium 12/07/2015

12/07/2015 4th IPSFAfrican Pharmaceutical Symposium 3

Why Social MediaMost common use phone activity by country (Source: GeoPoll and World Wide Worx)

South Africa

Nigeria Ghana Kenya Uganda

Facebook 41% 58% 54% 44% 44%

Send SMS 52% 39% 40% 55% 43%

FM Radio 40% 36% 40% 46% 46%

Browse Internet 40% 47% 51% 34% 29%

Take Photos 45% 38% 37% 34% 31%

Instant Messaging 41% 34% 34% 40% 34%

Play Games 34% 34% 33% 30% 27%

Download Apps 34% 28% 31% 19% 18%

Twitter 14% 14% 13% 14% 11%


Objectives

• To provide patient education.

• To provide referrals when necessary.

• To provide self-preventive care.


How it works

• The Patient/Care taker uses any of the above plat forms to contact the doctor or pharmacist.

• The doctor listens to the symptoms and advice accordingly whether the patient needs emergency care or not.

• In case of emergency care; the doctor provides information on first aid and refers the patient to the nearest health center or specialist.


Results

• One year after the start of its operation. • There was an average of 100,000 users per month. 60%

needed emergency care while the rest did not. • 60% of the users were from urban areas and 40% from rural.

70% and 30% contacted doctors and pharmacists respectively. • The common reasons for calling included; primary health care

consultation (70%), referral to specialist consultant (27%) and general health information (3%).

• Of every 100 callers, 90 were patients while the rest called on behalf of the patient. The most popular platforms were facebook and whatsapp.


Discussions:

• Most of the users seek health information only after falling sick.

• Many users are not aware of the roles of pharmacists in providing primary health care.

• The high call tariff rates have deterred patients from using the call center.

• Unreliable, slow and expensive internet has limited the use of video call services.


Discussions

• Most of the users seek health information only after falling sick.

• Many users are not aware of the roles of pharmacists in providing primary health care.

• The high call tariff rates have deterred patients from using the call center.

• Unreliable, slow and expensive internet has limited the use of video call services.


Implications in practice

• Due to the inadequate number of health care professionals in Uganda and the rest of Africa, social media provides an opportunity for the masses to access health professionals and health information.

• Individual health professionals, students and institutions can utilise social media extensively to inform and educate people.


Acknowledgment

Dr. Davis Musinguzi, Managing Director TMCG


Acknowledgement

Dr. Davis Musinguzi, Managing Director TMCG

124th IPSFAfrica Pharmaceutical Symposium 12/07/2015

MURAKOZE!

134th IPSFAfrica Pharmaceutical Symposium 12/07/2015

use of social media to promote health

Healthcare