Mitigating Burnout? The Impact of Using Social Media on Patient Engagement, and Career Satisfaction of Health Care Providers in China

Introduction: The well-being of health care providers is closely linked to the quality of patient care they deliver. This study examined how social media was used for work among health care providers and its impact on burnout, career satisfaction, and patient engagement. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted. A total of 374 Chinese health care providers, including physicians, nurses, and medical staff completed the study. Results: Our study reveals that health care providers in China predominantly utilized social media to communicate with their colleagues. Moreover, using social media to connect with patients beyond regular working hours was significantly associated with an increased sense of personal accomplishment and career satisfaction, alongside a reduced likelihood of experiencing depersonalization. Additionally, communicating with other health care providers was positively associated with a sense of personal accomplishment and negatively associated with depersonalization. Conclusions: Our study uncovered substantial benefits to incorporating social media into the health care practices. Using social media increased physicians’ likelihood of treating patients with a human-centric approach, valuing their work, and fostering job satisfaction. The study underscored the importance of social media for professional networking, knowledge sharing, and patient engagement in the health care context.