It is critical for physicians to use their long-held trust wisely

During sports physical appointments, I routinely address preventive health topics that range from asking about alcohol, drugs, and sexuality, to addressing accident prevention and updating immunizations.  At one such appointment recently, a young male teen was due for two routine vaccines.  The mother accompanying him had no concerns about one of the vaccines, but expressed concern about the other. A friend had recently shared information on Facebook about how the particular vaccine contained “poisons.”  She was waiting for more friends to “weigh in” on the concern before she made a decision. I asked more about the information her friend had shared, but she hadn’t read it yet.  She allowed her son to receive just one vaccine that day. I am always disappointed when parents choose not to vaccinate their children for whatever reason.  Vaccines save lives and prevent disease before it can occur, and one less vaccinated person may mean one more disease, with a life potentially changed.  This particular interaction, however, struck me because of how the Internet — especially social media — may be shaping how individuals make decisions, and influencing the very nature of trust. “Trust” implies an implicit belief in the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of information. Trust typically does not happen overnight; rather, it is built with time and consistency. For example, the trust that develops in a close relationship buil...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Social media Facebook Pediatrics Source Type: blogs