Public Engagement with Dermatology Contents on Facebook

J Cutan Med Surg. 2015 May-Jun;19(3):304-8. doi: 10.2310/7750.2014.14119. Epub 2015 Mar 13.

Abstract

Background: The gtring presence of dermatology platforms on Facebook has been acknowledged; however, little is known about the extent to which different types of content influence the level of engagement with online users.

Objective: To assess the level of public engagement with different types of content posted on Facebook pages devoted to dermatology.

Methods: A search on Facebook identified existing pages for dermatology academic journals, professional societies, and patient-centered groups. Then the engagement rate was calculated for each content type published on the selected pages.

Results: The median engagement rates were 63.8% for educational posts, 41.3% for interactive posts, 27.4% for news articles, 11.8% for academic articles, and 9.3% for others.

Conclusion: Educational posts engaged with online users the most effectively. The level of engagement is a key determinant of knowledge dissemination via online tools, and the type of content may influence the level of engagement.

MeSH terms

  • Dermatology*
  • Health Education / methods*
  • Health Promotion / methods*
  • Humans
  • Social Media*