The Common Applications of Social Networks in Healthcare

Social networks can have an important role in treatment of patients, instant transmission of information and feedback, and improvement of the doctor-patient relationship. In this study, the common applications of social networks in the field of healthcare were determined and classified. This narrative review of literature was performed in 2015. Data were collected through an electronic search for articles published in English and Persian in the past 11 years in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, SID, Medlib, and Magiran databases. The keywords used in this search included "social network", "healthcare", "social media", and other similar keywords. Based on our review, social networks have significant applications in the healthcare sector such as enhancing the effects of antidepressant pharmacotherapy, identifying influential users, and measuring the quality criteria. In addition, healthcare social networks have some complications such as unprofessional behaviors of users and privacy concerns. Therefore, through understanding the applications and limitations of social networks, the requirements of applying these networks in the healthcare sector can be specified.