Expectations Regarding Use of Pseudonyms by Healthcare Professionals and Patients in Social Media

Transparency, ie "who says what" is an important factor in the quality of information in healthcare and in particular on the internet. However, there is a differentiation in the use of pseudonyms by physicians on social networks, in the US and outside the US. Physicians in France for example mostly disguise their identity through the use of pseudonyms and physicians in the US, on social media, mostly communicate with their name and photo. This paper will explore a) international medical literature on the subject of online pseudonyms as used by physicians and patients and b) present international survey results regarding what physicians and patients expect of each other, in regard to use of true identity or pseudonym. The hypothesis is that patients prefer greater transparency from healthcare professionals than professionals wish to provide. The survey is being launched in March, 2014, through online questionnaires and will be promoted internationally through consumers, patients, and healthcare professionals on social media. Amongst the questions that will be examined in this presentation: is "patient privacy" a real reason or an alibi for use of physician pseudonyms? What are physician motivations for use of pseudonyms? How similar or different are physician and patient perspectives on these questions? []