P0562 - Title: Snapchat story: I need a heart transplant

Introduction:
Social media has become part of the developmental experience for adolescents and young adults (AYA) who remain its most prolific users. The impact of social media use across medical disciplines is an area of developing interest. Studies have shown that adolescents use the internet to gather information about their health. Diagnosis of a serious illness among AYA can be socially isolating however online platforms such as social media may provide a method for AYA to communicate with peers about their health.

Case Report:
16-year-old previously healthy male with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in heart failure was hospitalized in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit for treatment requiring continuous infusion of milrinone to maintain cardiac output. Evaluation and work-up for heart transplant was initiated. Consideration of placement of Ventricular Assist Device was presented as a bridge to transplant. During a prolonged period of hospitalization, the patient identified using the online social media platform, Snapchat, as a tool to communicate with his peers about his diagnosis, treatment and hospital course. He identified three main positive attributes of using this method of communication: 1) feeling less isolated from his peers; 2) being able to answer questions about his condition and clinical status without constant repetition of his clinical status; 3) development of a sense of health literacy and mastery over his diagnosis by disseminating information explained from physicians to his peers and developing further questions for his medical team based on peer responses.
Discussion and

Conclusion:
Social media may provide a means for coping and relationship building for AYA in the setting of serious illness. Further exploration into understanding how AYA use social media as a platform to process a serious illness may help providers to council patients and families about safe social media practice regarding information gathering and sharing online.