Engaging and educating patients in prostate imaging via social media

Excerpt

Prostate cancer (PCa) continues to be a major health problem. A key challenge in PCa management is the over-treatment of indolent disease and under-treatment of aggressive disease. Increasingly, this challenge is being addressed by decision making guided by multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI). In numerous studies, mpMRI has accurately detected and staged PCa, and also directed the accurate sampling of suspicious prostate lesions via a targeted approach [1, 2]. These investigations have brought new strategies for PCa management, including image-guided active surveillance and image-guided focal therapy, into clinical use. While PCa patients are exposed to these new clinical paradigms using MRI, they still may have an incomplete understanding, or ongoing questions, regarding the role of imaging in their disease [3]. Although radiologists, who perform and interpret such imaging, are well positioned to address these issues and enhance patients’ understanding of prostate MRI, they do not routinely meet with PCa patients whose imaging exams they interpret. One way for radiologists to reach and educate PCa patients regarding MRI is through radiologist-led direct public education sessions [4]. However, considering the large number of men at risk or already diagnosed with PCa, such in-person group education may be insufficient for reaching the majority of patients. Social media provides an additional valuable source of patient information. Social media alternatives, including microblogging networks (e.g., Twitter^®), social networks (e.g., Facebook^®), and audiovisual networks (e.g., Youtube^®), enable patients to rapidly search and access information regarding their diagnosis and treatment. Social media presents a powerful opportunity to establish connections between patients and their physicians, facilitating direct patient–physician communication and efficient patient education with up-to-date information. Nonetheless, efforts are required to ensure that the information available on social media platforms be correct, objective, and evidence-based. In order to foster the engagement and education of PCa patients regarding the growing role of imaging in their condition, the Society of Abdominal Radiology’s Prostate Cancer Disease Focus Panel has created a Twitter account “@SAR_ProstateDFP.” This social media account will allow radiologists, who are experts in PCa imaging, to share the most up-to-date, objective, evidence-based information regarding imaging with their patients and quickly address patients’ questions and concerns. …