Harassment of Docs on Social Media A Growing Problem

BY ETHAN COVEY

or religion. Sexual harassment frequently included receipt of inappropriate and sexually explicit messages or comments.

One-fourth of physicians report being personally attacked on “The thing that was most surprising for me was the intensisocial media, with many experiencing death threats, verbal ty of the attacks and sexual harassment incidents described that abuse and sharing of personally identifying information, accord- included things like death threats and threats of rape,” Dr. Arora ing to a new study. said. “I also think it’s important to note that women physicians,

Additionally, one in six female physicians reported online in particular, face a double hit: They could be attacked and also sexual harassment. face the risk of being sexually harassed.”

“It is important that in an era when physicians are engaging The authors noted that their research was completed before in advocacy and education on public health on c health on the outbreak of COVID-19, but the pandemic makes the the outbreak social media that they risk being attacked,” said d,” said findings even more relevant. finding Vineet M. Arora, MD, a Herbert T. Abelson elson “Over the last year, we have truly seen the “O professor of medicine at the University of of importance of disseminating evidence-based im Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. factual information founded in science,” f

Dr. Arora and her colleagues conduct- Dr. Jain said. “Physicians and other health ed the study as a way to test a hypothe- care workers have been using social media sis that harassment and personal attacks effectively to disseminate facts and science, were prevalent among physicians engag- but unfortunately there has also been a paring with social media (JAMA Intern Med allel ‘infodemic’ where we have seen misin2021;181[4]:550-552). formation and false information spread. We f

“I have been an active social media a have seen our scientific leaders attacked and h user for years with the primary focus of of bullied for advocating for public health meabu disseminating evidence-based informama- sures that would save lives. Now more than ever, su tion so patients can make informed decieci- we need to trust our scientists and public health we sions,” said co-author Shikha Jain, MD, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology, Uni‘We have seen our scientific leaders officials, and this is one of the first studies to show conclusively that those individuals who use their platforms to disseminate information are ffi versity of Illinois at Chicago. “With more health care workers and physicians utilizing attacked and bullied targeted, bullied and harassed.” In an effort to increase social media advocasocial media in this manner over the years, for advocating cy, Drs. Arora and Jain founded an organization we conceptualized this study to get a better understanding of how other physicians for public health called IMPACT4HC (Illinois Medical Professionals Action Collaborative Team), a group of across the country used social media, and measures that health care workers with social media presence what their experiences were in the digital space.” would save lives.’ who are actively advocating and educating as part of a team. The team developed a survey that was distributed via Twitter from Feb. 6 to March —Shikha Jain, MD They have also created a tool kit to help health care professionals navigate how to properly and 20, 2019. Respondents were asked to answer safely use social media. yes or no to two questions: Have you ever been personally tar- “We have found that having others to support you and your geted or attacked on social media? Have you ever been sexual- messaging can be very helpful in the social media space,” Dr. Jain ly harassed on social media? A comment box was included for said. “When engaging on social media, I remind people that the respondents to describe such incidents. amount of energy you expend is up to you. While having a spir-

A total of 464 participants who self-reported as U.S.-based ited discussion with someone who thinks differently than you can physicians completed the questionnaire. Of the respondents, result in a productive exchange of ideas, if the person is simply 57.8% were women or nonbinary, and 42.2% were men. The attacking you or trying to get a rise out of you, there is no need median age was 39 years. to continue to engage.” ■

Reports of attacks on social media were widespread, with 23.3% acknowledging abuse. Common themes for harassment Dr. Arora reported funding from the Journal of Hospital Medicine as a included anti-vaccination, anti-gun control and anti-abortion social media editor, the American Board of Internal Medicine and the Joint comments, as well as personal attacks based on physicians’ race Commission, and is a founding member of TIME’S UP Healthcare.