Why you should read this article:

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To learn about the role of Facebook as a platform for population health messaging in primary care

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To understand how Facebook is used by general practices

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To develop ideas for implementing your own official Facebook page

Facebook is the most common social media site on which adults in the UK have a profile. It is therefore a potentially useful platform for general practices to promote their services and update their patients. However, the value of social media platforms is not always appreciated by frontline general practice teams. This article describes a project that assisted general practices in the Staffordshire area to develop their own official Facebook pages. It offers advice and suggestions about how to develop and best use Facebook in practice areas.