This study examined the extent of This study
examined the knowledge and utilization of social media
in health care delivery among health practitioners in
university teaching hospitals in Anambra State. To
achieve this, the study specifically sought to find out
their level of knowledge, exposure to the benefits of
utilizing social media in health care delivery and also
the extent of social media utilization in health care
delivery. The study adopted the Diffusion of
Innovations, Technological Determinism Theories .The
study employed Quantitative design (Survey) a sample
size of 399 drawn from a population of 1505 through
Krejcie and Morgan (1979) parameter for sample size
determination. The questionnaire was the instrument
for data collection for the survey. 372 (Questionnaire)
were returned which formed the foundation for data
analysis. The area of study was the university teaching
hospitals in Anambra state which are Nnamdi Azikiwe
university teaching hospital,Nnewi(NAUTH)and
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu university teaching
hospital, Amaku-Awka (COOUTH). Data collected
from the respondents reveal that although they are
aware of the utilization of social media technologies in
health care delivery, they however do not utilize it in
health care delivery because they seem not to be well
exposed to the benefits of utilizing them and it is yet to
be integrated in the hospitals. They also cited other
challenges that can hinder them from utilizing social
media in health care delivery, to include
misunderstanding of information; illiteracy on the part
of patients; poor network access; availability of these
devices; poor funding amongst others. However, social
media should be accepted as an alternative means of
contact and not as a displacement of others. There
should also be workshops and seminar to help the
health practitioners get exposed to the benefits of
utilizing the social media in health care delivery.
Keywords : Knowledge, Utilization, Social Media, Health Care delivery and Health Practitioner.