ePublic Health: Fresh Approachees to Infection Prevention and Control

Abstract

Prevention and control of infectious diseases suffer from deficient compliance with preventive measures or guidelines of both professionals and general audience. This poses a threat to public health. Current approaches to prevent risk behavior are in need of innovation. Fresh approaches to education, information and communication are needed. In this study five social media tools i.e., (micro-)blogs, social networks, podcasts, mobile applications, RSS feeds, are (re)designed and operated with regard to four areas of infection prevention and control. They are evaluated according to their impact on public and professional adherence, compliance rate and other indices. Here we present outcomes of the first part of the study; a literature review of social media use in public health, specifically in the Netherlands. Empirical studies are scarce. However anecdotic studies, practices and experiences are reported that imply a range of innovative possibilities and potential impact of social media in the field of prevention and control of infectious diseases, as well as in public health at large