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Harassment of Docs on Social Media A Growing Problem or religion. Sexual harassment frequently included receipt of inappropriate and sexually explicit messages or comments. ne-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 publicc health on the outbreak of COVID-19, but the pandemic makes the social media that they risk being attacked,” d,” said finding even more relevant. findings Vineet M. Arora, MD, a Herbert T. Abelson elson “O “Over the last year, we have truly seen the professor of medicine at the University of im importance of disseminating evidence-based Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. f factual information founded in science,” Dr. Arora and her colleagues conductDr. Jain said. “Physicians and other health ed the study as a way to test a hypothecare workers have been using social media sis that harassment and personal attacks effectively to disseminate facts and science, were prevalent among physicians engagbut unfortunately there has also been a paring with social media (JAMA Intern Med allel ‘infodemic’ where we have seen misin2021;181[4]:550-552). f formation and false information spread. We “I have been an active social mediaa h have seen our scientific leaders attacked and user for years with the primary focus of bu bullied for advocating for public health meadisseminating evidence-based informamasu that would save lives. Now more than ever, sures tion so patients can make informed decieciwe need to trust our scientists and public health sions,” said co-author Shikha Jain, MD, an ffi officials, and this is one of the first studies to assistant professor of medicine in the Divishow conclusively that those individuals who use sion of Hematology and Oncology, Unitheir platforms to disseminate information are versity of Illinois at Chicago. “With more targeted, bullied and harassed.” health care workers and physicians utilizing In an effort to increase social media advocasocial media in this manner over the years, cy, Drs. Arora and Jain founded an organization we conceptualized this study to get a betcalled IMPACT4HC (Illinois Medical Profester understanding of how other physicians sionals Action Collaborative Team), a group of across the country used social media, and health care workers with social media presence what their experiences were in the digital who are actively advocating and educating as part space.” of a team. The team developed a survey that was disThey have also created a tool kit to help health —Shikha Jain, MD tributed via Twitter from Feb. 6 to March 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 spirA 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. BY ETHAN COVEY
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‘We have seen our scientific leaders attacked and bullied for advocating for public health measures that would save lives.’
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OR Management News • June 2021
