Title: Examining the risks of social networking adoption in the Bhutanese healthcare system

Authors: Peldon; Tomayess Issa

Addresses: ICT Unit, JDWNR Hospital, Thimphu 11001, Bhutan ' Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, 6845, Western Australia

Abstract: Social networking studies have largely focused on opportunities of using it; this study examines the risks of adopting social networking (SN) in the healthcare system in Bhutan. Based on the current literature review, SN use will enhance communication, collaboration, connection, coordination and knowledge sharing among the healthcare professionals and patients, while security, privacy concerns and data accuracy are considered as the main obstacles to social networking adoption. This study employed the qualitative method and the online survey was distributed and collected among the healthcare system in Bhutan. A valid sample size of 145 survey responses was collected giving a response rate of 92.7%. The finding provides insight of the risk the healthcare professionals of Bhutan by adopting social network in the healthcare system. Two new risks generated from this study are security threat and potential implications.

Keywords: social networking systems; SNS adoption risks; security threats; data integrity; healthcare systems; Bhutan; communication; collaboration; connection; coordination; knowledge sharing; privacy concerns; data accuracy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWBC.2015.072135

International Journal of Web Based Communities, 2015 Vol.11 No.3/4, pp.322 - 339

Received: 10 Apr 2014
Accepted: 01 Apr 2015
Published online: 01 Oct 2015 *

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