Kui arsti ooteaeg on pikk või ravi ei aita, otsivad inimesed abi ühismeediast
When the doctor's waiting time is long or treatment doesn't help, people seek help from social media
Kui arsti juurde minek on raske või ravi ei aita, pöörduvad inimesed ühismeediasse. Seal otsitakse nõu ja jagatakse kogemusi.
When visiting a doctor is difficult or treatment doesn't help, people turn to social media. There, they seek advice and share experiences.
Writing your question on a group wall is much faster than going to the doctor. People want a quick response to their concern. On social media, an answer is often received within minutes.
Berit Renser, a researcher at Tallinn University, studied Facebook health groups. She found that people trust doctors for diagnosis, but in complex cases, they also turn to healers.
The group shares advice on both evidence-based medicine and alternative treatments. People write about their problems and receive experiences and recommendations from others.
The group offered solutions ranging from herbal extracts to superfoods. Some recommendations came from folk medicine, others were advertised through marketing.
However, the group emphasized that first, one should turn to a doctor. Biomedicine is not insignificant, but part of the healing process.
Some people also turn to witches from the group. Witches give advice that links problems to childhood or family patterns.
On social media, people get quick help, especially if a doctor's appointment is expensive or the waiting time is long. The group has many people who live in rural areas or abroad.
Berit Renser's research showed that social media is an important place for solving health problems, where people seek support and meaning.