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Abstract

Purpose: The globally expanding impact of Social Media on the personal and professional lives of healthcare professionals has increased research interest in e-professionalism. While there are benefits of Social Media usage among medical students, it may pose an unintended overlap between their personal and professional attitudes. This study aims to evaluate medical students' Social Media usage, attitude, and impression management and assess their relation to students’ e-professionalism. Methods: An observational cross-sectional/ correlational research design was carried out at Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences in Jeddah using an 18-item questionnaire adapted from a 43-item questionnaire published in a previous study carried out in Croatia, after conducting content validation. A total of 148 MBBS students from years 1 to 6 participated in this study. Data was collected using an adapted self-administered questionnaire measuring demographic characteristics, Social Media impression management, and e-professionalism. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS, version 25.0. Demographic data and responses of participants were analyzed as descriptive statistics. Hierarchical regression was employed to determine if gender, age, academic year, and Social Media impression management significantly predict e-professionalism. Results: Out of 148 respondents, 67.6% were female, and 32.4% were male. The students had moderate awareness about managing impressions on Social Media and the consequences of unprofessional online behaviors. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that among the examined predictors, gender and Social Media impression management were statistically significant, with Social Media impression management (R2= 0.273,β = 0.438, p < 0.001) being the strongest predictor. Conclusion: The study concluded that medical students are moderately aware of e-professionalism and what constitutes proper online professional behavior, and that there is a relationship between proficiency in managing Social Media impressions and demonstrating an online professional attitude among medical students. Hence, the students must be provided with further information about e-professionalism through policy awareness and curriculum reformulation.

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