{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nThe growing influence of social media in healthcare raises ethical, regulatory, and professional concerns. Dermatology, positioned at the intersection of clinical, surgical, and aesthetic medicine, faces unique challenges in navigating this digital landscape.Objectives\n\nTo assess how dermatology professionals in Italy use social media; identify behavioural patterns and sociodemographic correlates; and explore perceived challenges, educational needs, and the potential role of institutional guidance.Methods\n\nA cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Italian dermatologists, residents, students, and nurses (n = 201). The 25-item questionnaire explored demographics, platform use, content shared, and perceptions. Descriptive statistics, hierarchical clustering (Ward's method), and Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) were used to assess usage patterns and their association with age, experience, and role.Results\n\nAmong respondents, 49.8% reported professional use of social media. Two clusters emerged: Cluster 1 (n = 52), mainly older, experienced professionals with low activity and limited platform use; and Cluster 2 (n = 48), younger, less experienced users more active on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Significant associations were found with age (p < 0.001), experience (p < 0.001), and professional role (p = 0.0039). While most acknowledged social media's value for education and prevention, concerns emerged about misinformation, legal risks, and inadequate training. Only 11.4% had received formal instruction. Over 75% supported official recommendations.Conclusions\n\nA generational divide and lack of structured training result in fragmented digital engagement among Italian dermatologists. Institutional guidance could help promote ethical communication, reinforce professional credibility, and support public health through trustworthy digital content.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Italy.",
    "Section of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Italy.",
    "Division of Dermatology Cesena/Forlì/Burn Centre and Regional Regional Skin Bank, AUSL Romagna, Italy.",
    "Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy.",
    "Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy.",
    "Dermatology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy.",
    "Skin Cancer Unit, IRCCS, Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST), Meldola, Italy.",
    "Dermatologist in private practice, Benevento, Italy.",
    "Dermatology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera 'A. Manzoni', Lecco, Italy.",
    "Director Emeritus, Department of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, ARNAS-Palermo, Italy.",
    "Dermatology Unit, Galliera Hospital, Genoa, Italy.",
    "Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padua, Padova, Italy.",
    "Pediatric Dermatology Regional Center, Department of Women's and Children's Health (SDB), University of Padua, Italy.",
    "Italian Association of Hospital Dermatologists."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 18,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Fortunato Cassalia"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Andrea Danese"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Carmine D'Acunto"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Antonio Russo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Corrado Zengarini"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Michelangelo La Placa"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Christian Ciolfi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Filippo Scolaro"
    },
    {
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        5,
        6
      ],
      "name": "Ignazio Stanganelli"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Francesco Cusano"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Fabrizio Fantini"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        9
      ],
      "name": "Salvatore Amato"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Davide Melandri"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        10
      ],
      "name": "Cesare Massone"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        11
      ],
      "name": "Laura Ventura"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        11
      ],
      "name": "Andrea Serracchia"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        12
      ],
      "name": "Anna Belloni Fortina"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        13
      ],
      "name": "ADOI"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/63thg7t9h8src.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.5826/dpc.1603a6556",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13557288",
  "id": "63thg7t9h8src",
  "issns": [
    "2160-9381"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42858408",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13557288?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13557288",
  "pmid": "42858408",
  "published": "2026-07-31",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/63thg7t9h8src.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:18Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42858408",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42858408"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "journal-openalex:F27",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Generational Divides and Guidance Needs in the Use of Social Media: Results from an Italian Dermatology Survey.",
  "title_text": "Generational Divides and Guidance Needs in the Use of Social Media: Results from an Italian Dermatology Survey.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:18Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/63thg7t9h8src",
  "venue": "Dermatology practical & conceptual",
  "versions": []
}