Social Media & Cancer Drugs: Conversation, not Promotion #hcsm
Social media hasn’t yet changed the world for biotech and pharma companies, but I believe this year is the year that will change.
For better or worse, these tools change the way people can communicate about specific things in business, politics, entertainment, and more. Online communities of cancer patients, physicians, and advocates are being built with little to no representation from drug developers. With researchers devoted to improving our understanding of cancer biology and improving patient experiences, pharma/biotech should be engaging in these communities as well, despite concerns that federal regulators haven’t established the rules. While no company wants to wade into murky areas, there are risks to being overly cautious.
As Dr. Farris Timimi, director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media (SM), said, “the biggest risk in health care SM is not participating in the conversation.”
Social Media in Oncology
In oncology, patient-focused groups are leading the way in creating places and situations where patients can share and learn, not only from each other but doctors and researchers. Here are some prominent examples across a few social media platforms. (For a quantitative resource, seeThe Social Oncology Project 2013, undertaken by a communications firm in May 2013.)
Read more: http://www.xconomy.com/wisconsin/2014/01/23/social-media-cancer-drugs-conversation-not-promotion/