Digital professionalism and social media use among healthcare workers in tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar, Pakistan: a cross-sectional study
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Abstract
Objective: To examine digital professionalism and social media use among healthcare workers in tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar, Pakistan.
Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from July-September 2024 at three tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar: Khyber Teaching Hospital, Hayatabad Medical Complex, and Lady Reading Hospital. A total of 301 healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, and paramedics) who were active social media users were recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a validated 27-item questionnaire assessing digital professionalism across eight domains. Responses were recorded on a 5-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version-23.
Results: The mean age of participants was 32.62±7.83 years, with a predominance of males (73.4%). Doctors constituted 59.1% of the sample. Most participants reported daily use of technology (80.1%) and engagement in digital professional networks (59.5%), with WhatsApp being the most used platform (44.9%). High levels of adherence were observed in domains of confidentiality (78.1%), respect for colleagues (82.1%), and ethics (77.1%). However, gaps were noted in conflict-of-interest disclosure, with 22.6% never reporting financial or commercial interests. The mean digital professionalism score was highest among doctors (116.96), followed by nurses (112.94) and paramedics (111.74), with a statistically significant difference between groups (F=3.61, p=0.028).
Conclusion: Healthcare workers in Peshawar demonstrated generally high levels of digital professionalism, with comparatively higher scores among doctors, particularly in domains of ethical conduct and confidentiality. However, gaps in conflict-of-interest disclosure and boundary management persist. Targeted training and clear institutional guidelines are recommended to promote responsible social media use in healthcare settings.
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