A Policy Framework for Leveraging Social Media to Improve Patient Health Literacy in UAE Hospitals

Abstract

Social media has become an important channel for healthcare communication, providing new opportunities for hospitals to improve patient access to health information and support health literacy. However, the increasing availability of online health information also creates challenges related to information quality, misinformation, professional communication, and the absence of structured approaches for integrating social media into patient education strategies. This policy paper proposes a framework for leveraging social media to improve patient health literacy in United Arab Emirates (UAE) hospitals. The framework was developed based on evidence from a case study conducted at Shaam Hospital, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, which examined the role of social media in supporting patient education, knowledge development, and health-related outcomes. The proposed framework identifies five interconnected policy enablers: hospital social media governance and accountability, evidence-based health communication, healthcare professional digital competency, patient digital health literacy empowerment, and monitoring and evaluation. Together, these components provide an evidence-informed approach for transforming social media from a general communication platform into a structured patient education resource. The framework offers practical guidance for healthcare policymakers, hospital administrators, and healthcare professionals seeking to integrate social media into patient-centred healthcare strategies while maintaining quality, safety, and accountability. Future research should evaluate the implementation of this framework across diverse healthcare settings to determine its effectiveness in improving patient health literacy and engagement.