USE OF THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL NETWORKS IN ORTHOPEDICS AND TRAUMATOLOGY AND PERSPECTIVE OF POST COVID TELEMEDICINE.

The internet has been changing the doctor-patient relationship in the orthopedic area, especially in recent months, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: To gather information on the use of social networks regarding orthopedics and traumatology, as well as patient opinions on telemedicine. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 237 patients discharged from the orthopedics outpatient clinic of the Odilon Behrens Metropolitan Hospital, in service exclusively for the SUS, answered a questionnaire containing questions related to the use of the internet, social networks, and telemedicine in the current context. Results: Most participants never or rarely look for information on the internet before or after the medical appointment; but when they do, the search results are rarely enlightening. There was a lower demand for information among men when compared with women. There were no significant differences regarding the age of the participants who agreed that most appointments will be carried out over the internet in the future. Conclusion: The search for medical information on social networks is a global reality, but it still generates disagreements regarding its effectiveness and scope. More studies are needed in different orthopedic services for further analysis on the use of social networks within this field.