Social Media News and Research

Latest Social Media News and Research

First Edition: December 19, 2012

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the "fiscal cliff" negotiations.

19 Dec 2012

Kids misuse holiday baking ingredients for drug-like effect

Watch your kitchen cupboards this season as thrillseekers look to common holiday baking ingredients for a rise - cinnamon, nutmeg and even marshmallows are the primary ingredient in trendy risky behavior.

19 Dec 2012

Gender inequality must be addressed to 'get to zero' in AIDS epidemic

"What does it take to get to zero? While reflecting on the theme of this past World AIDS Day (Getting to zero, Zero new infections, Zero discrimination, Zero deaths), I asked myself this question," Lisa MacDonald, project manager at HealthBridge Foundation of Canada, writes in a Huffington Post Canada opinion piece.

14 Dec 2012

Low-cost concierge care, social media among changes in practice of medicine

News outlets examine trends such as doctors' use of social media to explore medical information and the growth of relatively low-cost concierge medicine, where patients may pay $50 a month for unlimited doctors' visits and calls.

12 Dec 2012

Survey finds heavy use of online physician-only communities

A new survey shows that about one in four physicians uses social media daily or multiple times a day to scan or explore medical information, and 14 percent use social media each day to contribute new information, according to an oncologist at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.

10 Dec 2012

Nokia to donate infant delivery kits to UNFPA

UNFPA and mobile phone company Nokia announced this week that the "company will donate the equivalent of 3,000 clean delivery kits to the fund," according to an UNFPA press release.

8 Dec 2012

Drug makers zero in on diabetes patients' social media connections

People living with diabetes have created a vibrant online community. Big drug companies are certainly taking notice - and some advocacy groups feel that the Food and Drug Administration should as well.

4 Dec 2012

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals updates corporate website

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the launch of its redesigned and updated corporate website,www.adventrx.com. The new website features clinician videos, patient resources, and important news pertaining to sickle cell disease and ADVENTRX's lead product candidate, ANX-188 (purified poloxamer 188).

3 Dec 2012

First Edition: December 3, 2012

For years, King/Drew provided emergency, trauma and inpatient care to residents from throughout South Los Angeles. After a series of medical errors resulted in patient deaths, Los Angeles County closed it in 2007. County officials promised the community a better, safer new medical center in a few years.

3 Dec 2012

BVM Capital makes seed round investment in Fitness Interactive Experience

BVM Capital today announced that it has made a seed round investment in health and fitness gaming innovator Fitness Interactive Experience (FIX). FIX is dedicated to helping people achieve enhanced levels of fitness and health by making fitness fun, accessible and socially connected through harnessing the power of massively multiplayer on-line games. FIX is developing an interactive social media platform designed to make the pursuit of fitness an engaging and enjoyable game.

3 Dec 2012

UCB directs national effort to educate public about Crohn's disease

In recognition of Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week (December 1-7), UCB, Inc. is directing a national effort to educate the public about Crohn's disease and inspire those living with the condition to speak out about it.

1 Dec 2012

Mayo Clinic selected for Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame Class of 2012

Mayo Clinic has been inducted into the Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame Class of 2012 at the 16th Annual Healthcare Internet Conference in Las Vegas. Mayo is one of two organizations that received the honor for Innovative Products and Services. Additionally, Mayo Clinic was honored with five eHealthcare Leadership Awards, presented by eHealthcare Strategy & Trends.

30 Nov 2012

Medicare, other entitlement programs key to 'fiscal cliff' deal

Politico reports that "inside the talks," a framework for addressing the "fiscal cliff" is taking shape that includes both tax increases and entitlement cuts. Other news outlets note that publicly, President Barack Obama is playing down spending cuts, while GOP leaders demand entitlement reductions but offer few specifics.

30 Nov 2012

Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies launches new blog for health and wellness

Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies is launching a new blog for health and wellness called According to Winnie, an informative and interactive online community where women can join conversations on healthcare, prevention and wellness, dieting, recipes, family health, and more.

29 Nov 2012

'Sharing Age' campaign receives EC grant to encourage health ageing

The European Commission has awarded €1 million to fund a campaign promoting health ageing 'Sharing Age' coordinated by Dr Sabina Brennan of the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience.

29 Nov 2012

Social media can reduce and prevent infectious diseases from spreading

When it comes to stopping illness, social media posts and tweets may be just what the doctor ordered. A Kansas State University-led research team is looking at social media as a tool to reduce and prevent diseases from spreading. Researchers are studying whether a well-timed post from a public authority or trustworthy person could be as beneficial as flu shots, hand-washing or sneezing into an elbow.

28 Nov 2012

TAU researcher connects computer communications and psychosis

As Internet access becomes increasingly widespread, so do related psychopathologies such as Internet addiction and delusions related to the technology and to virtual relationships. Computer communications such as Facebook and chat groups are an important part of this story, says Dr. Uri Nitzan of Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine and the Shalvata Mental Health Care Center in a new paper published in the Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences.

21 Nov 2012

Smoking and smartphones: an interview with Nasser Bin Dhim, Becky Freeman and Lyndal Trevena

Australia adopted the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2005. This includes a ban on all forms of tobacco advertising including on the internet.

9 Nov 2012

Online forum for healthcare ethics consultants

Healthcare ethics consultants are called upon in the most difficult of circumstances; where do they turn for advice? The American Society For Bioethics and Humanities' Clinical Ethics Consultation Affairs Committee (CECA) is taking a community approach, creating an online forum for feedback and shared experiences to accompany a paper published in the Fall 2012 issue of the Journal of Clinical Ethics.

8 Nov 2012

Online presence can positively affect physical health and well-being

Internet-based interactive games and social media outlets have become intertwined with the physical realities of millions of people around the world. When an individual strongly identifies with the cyber representation of themselves, known as an avatar, the electronic doppelganger can influence that person's health and appearance, according to a University of Missouri researcher's study.

7 Nov 2012