Study title

Opportunities and Threats of Social Media in Healthcare Professionals' Patient Care 2019

Dataset ID Number

FSD4037

Persistent identifiers

https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD4037
https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd4037

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Torkkola, Sinikka (Tampere University. Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences)
• Vuolanto, Pia (Tampere University. Faculty of Social Sciences)

Abstract

The data explored what kinds of threats or opportunities social media and the internet have introduced to the work of healthcare professionals. The data were collected as part of the research project 'Struggling with Ignorance: Negative Expertise and the Erosion of the Finnish Information Society at the Turn of 2020” (NEGATE).

First, the respondents were asked how often they follow various social media platforms and other online content privately and professionally, and how often they comment on discussions or initiate discussions on different social media platforms. Next, the impact of social media and the internet on the interaction between patient and physician or nurse, as well as on the care relationship, was examined. For example, the respondents were asked whether misinformation on social media or the internet regarding diseases had endangered patient safety and whether misinformation on social media and the internet undermines trust in physicians/nurses. Subsequently, the respondents were asked, for example, whether they professionally obtain new information from social media, whether they guide participants in social media discussions towards accurate information, and whether they have encountered professional conflicts on social media. Finally, the respondents were asked how they protect their privacy on social media, particularly from the viewpoint of professional identity, and whether the hospital in which they work has provided guidelines on the use of social media.

The background variables for the data include age categorised in five-year intervals, gender, occupational title, and information on the length of time the respondent has been working in the profession.

Keywords

health professionals; health services; internet; nurses; occupational qualifications; patients; physicians; social interaction; social media

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Information society (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Individual datasets

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (B) available for research, teaching and study.

Data Collector

• Torkkola, Sinikka (Tampere University. Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences)
• Vuolanto, Pia (Tampere University. Faculty of Social Sciences)

Funders

• Academy of Finland (316112)

Time Period Covered

2019

Collection Dates

2019-04-26 – 2019-07-31

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

The physicians and nursing staff of the Pirkanmaa Hospital District

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Total universe/Complete enumeration

The invitation to participate in the survey was published on the intranet of the Pirkanmaa Hospital District. A separate intranet news article about the invitation was also published

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Data File Language

Downloaded data package may contain different language versions of the same files.

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: Finnish.

FSD translates quantitative data into English on request, free of charge. More information on ordering data translation.

Data Version

1.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

For reasons of identifiability, the Finnish Social Science Data Archive anonymised the dataset by removing variables on respondents' year of birth and work unit, as well as variables containing open‑ended responses. Age was further grouped into five‑year bands.

Weighting

There are no weight variables in the data.

Citation Requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical Citation

Torkkola, Sinikka (Tampere University) & Vuolanto, Pia (Tampere University): Opportunities and Threats of Social Media in Healthcare Professionals' Patient Care 2019 [dataset]. Data version 1.0 (2026-01-26). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd4037; URN: https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD4037

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Disclaimer

The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.

Related Publications

Torkkola, S., Tyni, P., Parviainen, J., & Sendra, A. (2024). Terveydenhuollon muuttuvat viestintäkäytännöt: Kyselytutkimus terveydenhuollon asiantuntijoille sosiaalisen median mahdollisuuksista ja uhista potilas-työssä [Changing practices in the healthcare communication: A survey for healthcare experts about opportunities and threats of social media in patient care]. Media & Viestintä, 47(4), 53-78. https://doi.org/10.23983/mv.130759

Sendra, A., Torkkola, S., & Parviainen, J. (2023). Non-knowledge in Medical Practices: Approaching the Uses of Social Media in Healthcare from an Epistemological Perspective. Journal of Digital Social Research, 5(1), 70-89. doi.org/10.33621/jdsr.v5i1.152.