Table 3 Practices on social media by Healthcare students regarding online interaction with patients (N = 496)

Had sent a friend request to a patient*^†

227

Had received a ‘friend request’ on a social media account from a patient*^†

227

Had accepted the friend request from a patient on social media account*^†

124

Would interact, in the future, with a patient via social media*

487

Would send, in the future, a friend request to a patient*

490

Would accept, in the future practice, a friend request from a patient on social media*

487

Would provide medical advice to a patient on social media*

486

Would include information of medical importance learned about a patient online as a part of his/her medical record*

484