The power of Social Media to Affect our Health and Fitness

This is my last blog post. It has been a long 5 weeks I must say. I’m actually sad that it has to go. I have had such a wonderful experience working off-site, being the only public relations intern, and most importantly, getting a first hadn glimpse at the revolution of healthcare communications and public relations.

With the rise of citizen empowerment, more and more people are jumping onto the fitspo train. With Instagram and Facebook feeds flooding with fitspiration and healthy living quotes aimed to influence, with images of daily meal recaps and monthly body building progress. From a public relations point of view, this new health revelation is the gateway for endorsement of PR in the medical industry.

In the age of social media, this is the give and take that fuels the fitness and diet trends. Communications at medical practices such as Mill Street Medical Practice and Travel Medicine Centre Perth can be improved, both by a better way of exchanging information and by a more timely delivery of information.

Social media allows for people to share their experiences living with chronic diseases and the treatments that they have performed. It gives a platform for discussion that allows for participation and comparison among other patients. My work placement at the clinic has illustrated that a dedicated function of public relations in the medical industry can definitely draw audiences and shape opinions.

A recommendation for the clinic is to implement health studies that can be in the form of articles, or surveys for educational health purposes to the general public. I’m grateful that I was able to do my PR placement in Perth. It was an amazing experience to learn more about Perth from a medical perspective. Perth's isolation doesn't stop its local communities from staying fit and healthy, with the influence of modern Internet and social media. It is amazing to think what the future of healthcare PR and communications will hold.

That's all for now fellow intern buddies.
Hope everyone had a worthwhile experience in the "real world" as much as I did.