Social media can be a useful tool for medical students. It can help you build a professional identity online and give you a platform to share important health information with the wider public.

At the same time, it can also put you in the firing line as a future doctor, especially if you're not aware of some of the ethical considerations and the limits of your competence and knowledge.

Take our short quiz below to test your knowledge on using social media ethically to make sure you're building your online presence responsibly while upholding the trust of the public. The questions and answers are based on our article, Are you using social media ethically?.

Check your answers at the bottom of the article.

Test yourself with our quiz

1. What does the General Medical Council (GMC) consider as social media?

a) Only content shared publicly on apps or websites.

b) Content shared publicly and privately, including private messaging.

c) Content shared only on encrypted private groups.

d) Content shared only within professional circles.

2. Why is it important for medical professionals to be cautious about their behaviour on social media, as emphasised by the GMC?

a) To avoid criticism from peers.

b) To promote commercial products or services.

c) To uphold public trust and confidence in the profession.

d) To prevent losing social media followers.

3. What are some of the common pitfalls for medical students when using social media to build their professional brand?

a) Accidentally revealing personal details.

b) Violating patient confidentiality.

c) Engaging in conflicts of interest.

d) All of the above.

4. How does maintaining patient confidentiality relate to social media for medical students, and what are the potential risks associated with inadvertently breaching confidentiality?

a) By sharing images or videos taken at their workplace, medical students may inadvertently reveal patient information.

b) By discussing patient cases in public forums, medical students risk breaching confidentiality.

c) Both a) and b).

d) None of the above.

5. What are the ethical considerations around conflicts of interest when medical students are approached to promote products, medications, or treatments on social media?

a) Medical students should decline any offers to promote products or treatments to maintain professional integrity.

b) Medical students should disclose any conflicts of interest to their audience to promote transparency.

c) Both a) and b).

d) None of the above.

6. What does the article say about the competence of students when sharing medical advice online, and why is it important to work within the limits of your knowledge and qualifications?

a) Medical students should only provide medical advice online under the supervision of a registered healthcare practitioner.

b) It's important to recognise the limits of your competence to avoid spreading misinformation.

c) Both a) and b).

d) None of the above.

7. According to the MDU's advice, what precautions should medical students take to protect patient confidentiality, personal safety, and professionalism while engaging with social media platforms?

a) Avoid revealing workplace locations and patient information in social media posts.

b) Remain professional and avoid engaging in disputes or using inflammatory language.

c) Review privacy settings, use strong passwords, and update security software regularly.

d) All of the above.

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Correct answers

All of the correct answers can be found in our article.

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Want to test your social media knowledge even more? If you're an MDU member, you can take our e-learning module for free.

Take the quiz: social media ethics

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