Social media usage among health care providers

Impact of Communicating With Doctors Via Social Media on Consumers' E-Health Literacy and Healthy Behaviors in China

This study investigated the relationship between consumers’ communication with doctors and their e-Health literacy and healthy behaviors based on the theory of reasoned action. Five communication activities were identified: following doctors’ social media accounts, reading doctors’ posts, responding to doctors’ posts, favoring (clicking “like” of) doctors’ posts, and recommending doctors to other patients. E-Health literacy and healthy behaviors were measured based on instruments used in previous literature. Survey method was used to collect data and a hierarchical regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between communication activities and consumers’ e-Health literacy and healthy behaviors. We found that following doctors’ accounts (r = 0.127, P < .001), responding to doctors’ posts (r = 0.141, P < .001) and recommending doctors to others (r = 0.133, P < .001) were significantly associated with e-Health literacy, while following doctors’ accounts (r = 0.091, P < .001), responding to doctors’ post (r = 0.072, P < .01), favoring doctors’ posts (r = 0.129, P < .001), and recommending doctors to others (r = 0.220, P < .001) were significantly associated with healthy behaviors. Our study demonstrated that the social network communication between doctors and consumers could be cost-effective in improving intermediary consumers’ health outcomes. To be specific, following doctors’ posts, responding to doctors’ posts, favoring doctors’ posts, and recommending doctors to others were positively associated with consumers’ e-Health literacy and healthy behaviors. The results suggested that leveraging information technology could be an important tool to health policymakers and health providers in order to improve outcomes.

Social media in cardiovascular medicine: a contemporary review

Social media increasingly impact both the private and professional lives of the majority of the population, including individuals engaged in cardiovascular healthcare and research. Healthcare providers across the world use social media platforms such as Twitter or Facebook to find medical and scientific information, to follow scientific meetings, to discuss individual clinical cases with colleagues, and to engage with patients. While social media provide a means for fast, interactive and accessible communication without geographic boundaries, their use to obtain and disseminate information has limitations and the potential threats are not always clearly understood. Governance concerns include a lack of rigorous quality control, bias due to the pre-selection of presented content by filter algorithms, and the risk of inadvertent breach of patient confidentiality. This article provides information and guidance regarding the role and use of social media platforms in cardiovascular medicine, with an emphasis on the new opportunities for the dissemination of scientific information and continuing education that arise from their responsible use.

Engaging nurses in health policy in the era of COVID-19

Nurses have a unique place in redesigning the future of healthcare, particularly after experiencing health policy failures with the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Nurses consistently outperform other professions to enjoy a decades‐long reputation as the most trusted profession. Nevertheless, the nursing voice is missing at a public level; representation in governments and boardrooms negligible. While nurses carry out health policy, rarely are they involved informing policy. While substantial dialog on health system reform, regulatory changes, care coordination, and health information technology occurs, nursing's presence is absent. The barriers are many: a lack of political sophistication, family, and work demands limiting time, and a lack of confidence. Using the Yoder‐Wise Framework for Planned Policy Change, opportunities for engagement at each step in the process are made clear. Workplace opportunities provide entry‐level representation and exposure to the machinations of governance. Nursing professional associations provide similar opportunities. For many nurses, social media, while not without its risks, offers a familiar and accessible platform by which to engage patients, the public, and policymakers in planned, strategic steps to create policy change and improve healthcare for patients.

Development and validation of a Smartphone Impact Scale among healthcare professionals

Objectives

Smartphone overuse is prevalent among healthcare professionals. There is no standard scale that can measure the impact of smartphone usage on healthcare professionals. This study aimed to develop and validate a tool, the Smartphone Impact Scale (SIS), that can effectively measure the use of smartphone among healthcare professionals.

Methods

We developed a generic instrument to study the impact of smartphone usage among healthcare professionals. A total of 1436 healthcare professionals from various regions of KSA participated in this study through an online questionnaire-based survey. The psychometric properties of the SIS were developed using content validity index (CVI), factor analysis, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability analysis.

Results

A 23-item scale was selected for reliability and validity analysis. The average CVI was found to be 0.824. The internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha value was 0.91, and test-retest reliability was 0.85. The Cronbach's alpha values for Factors 1 and 2 were 0.875 and 0.803, respectively. The confirmatory factor analysis indices were as follows: root mean square of approximation = 0.0710, comparative fit index = 0.861, Tucker–Lewis index = 0.845, and the coefficient of determination = 0.969. The correlation between two factors was 0.66. After factor analysis, we developed a final questionnaire with 23 items.

Conclusions

Our SIS showed a three-factor structure and appropriate psychometric characteristics. Due to its adequate reliability and validity, SIS can be conveniently used to evaluate the impact of smartphone usage on healthcare professionals.

Microsurgery Fellowship Website and Social Media Presence: Are Programs Optimizing Recruitment Strategy?

BACKGROUND

 Microsurgery fellowship applicants make decisions for future training based on information obtained from colleagues, mentors, and microsurgery fellowship program Websites (MFWs). In this study, we sought to evaluate the accessibility and quality of available information by microsurgery programs by analyzing the most commonly used web resources and social media outlets for applicants.

METHODS

 The San Francisco (SF) Match and American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery Websites were queried in April 2020 for microsurgery fellowship programs (MFPs) participating in the SF Match. Twenty-two independent variables of information were assessed on MFWs based on previously published data. Social media presence was also assessed by querying Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for official hospital, plastic surgery residency, and microsurgery fellowship accounts.

RESULTS

 All 24 MFWs participating in the SF Match had a webpage. Program description, faculty listing, operative volume, and eligibility requirements were listed for all programs (100%). The majority of MFWs listed affiliated hospitals (75%), provided a link to the fellowship application (66.7%), listed interview dates (66.7%), and highlighted research interests (50%). A minority of MFWs provided information on conference schedule (37.5%), current fellow listing (25%), previous fellow listing (16.67%), and positions held by previous fellows (8.33%). No MFWs (0%) presented information on selection process, or rotation schedule.All hospitals with an MFP had a Facebook page and nearly all had Instagram (83.3%) and Twitter accounts (95.8%). Plastic surgery residency programs at the same institution of an MFP had social media presence on Facebook (38.9%), Twitter (38.9%), and Instagram (66.7%). Only three MFPs had Facebook accounts (12.5%) and none had Instagram or Twitter accounts.

CONCLUSION

 As the field of microsurgery continues to grow, the need for effective recruitment and training of microsurgeons continues to be essential. Overall, we conclude that both the accessibility and quality of information available to applicants are limited, which is a missed opportunity for recruitment.

Association of Social Network Use With Increased Anxiety Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Anesthesiology, Intensive Care, and Emergency Medicine Teams: Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey Study

Background

Critical care teams are on the front line of managing the COVID-19 pandemic, which is stressful for members of these teams.

Objective

Our objective was to assess whether the use of social networks is associated with increased anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic among members of critical care teams.

Methods

We distributed a web-based survey to physicians, residents, registered and auxiliary nurses, and nurse anesthetists providing critical care (anesthesiology, intensive care, or emergency medicine) in several French hospitals. The survey evaluated the respondents’ use of social networks, their sources of information on COVID-19, and their levels of anxiety and information regarding COVID-19 on analog scales from 0 to 10.

Results

We included 641 respondents in the final analysis; 553 (86.3%) used social networks, spending a median time of 60 minutes (IQR 30-90) per day on these networks. COVID-19–related anxiety was higher in social network users than in health care workers who did not use these networks (median 6, IQR 5-8 vs median 5, IQR 3-7) in univariate (P=.02) and multivariate (P<.001) analyses, with an average anxiety increase of 10% in social network users. Anxiety was higher among health care workers using social networks to obtain information on COVID-19 than among those using other sources (median 6, IQR 5-8 vs median 6, IQR 4-7; P=.04). Social network users considered that they were less informed about COVID-19 than those who did not use social networks (median 8, IQR 7-9 vs median 7, IQR 6-8; P<.01).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that social networks contribute to increased anxiety in critical care teams. To protect their mental health, critical care professionals should consider limiting their use of these networks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social media in ophthalmology: An analysis of use in the professional sphere

To characterize how ophthalmologists are using social media in their practice. A survey regarding ophthalmologists’ personal and professional use of social media was distributed online through a university alumni listserv. Data collection occurred over 4 weeks from January to February 2020. In total, 808 ophthalmologists opened the survey email, and 160 responded (19.8%). Of 160 respondents, 115 (71.9%) participated in social media for personal use. Professional use of social media was noted by 63 (39.4%) respondents. Age >40 years old correlated with less personal ( X2 = 5.06, p = 0.025) but not professional use ( p = 0.065). Private practice was associated with more use of social media professionally compared to those in an academic or Veteran’s Affairs hospital ( X2 = 6.58, p = 0.037). A majority of respondents (58.7%) were neutral regarding the effect of social media on their practice. The present survey showed that nearly 40% of respondents are involved in social media in a professional context. Private practice correlated with increased use of social media professionally, but providers were most commonly neutral regarding the impact of social media on their practice. This finding suggests further avenues of research including how providers using social media professionally are defining and assessing successful use.

A Characterization of Ophthalmology Residency Program Social Media Presence and Activity

Objective To determine the presence and activity of ophthalmology departments associated with residency programs on social media platforms and the use of these social media platforms by residency applicants.

Design Cross-sectional online assessment of ophthalmology training program departments' presence and activity on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Participants A total of 120 accredited ophthalmology residency training programs and 498 ophthalmology residency applicants.

Methods Each department was evaluated by (1) searching for social media links on the department's Web site, (2) searching for the department on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and (3) searching on Google. A simultaneous survey was conducted to assess social media platform use of 2019 to 2020 ophthalmology residency application cycle candidates.

Main Outcomes The presence of ophthalmology departments on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as the total number of followers and posts during January 2020.

Results Of 120 programs evaluated, 45 programs (37.5%) had a Facebook page, 29 (24.3%) were on Twitter, and 22 (18.3%) had an Instagram page. Among top 20 Doximity-ranked ophthalmology programs, 80% had at least one social media page on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram compared with 33% among the remainder of programs (chi-square test = 15.2, p < 0.001). Top 20 programs also had more followers compared with others on Facebook (4,363 vs. 696, respectively, p < 0.0001) and Twitter (3,673 vs. 355, respectively, p = 0.007) but not on Instagram (1,156 vs. 1,687, respectively, p = 0.71). Among 498 residency applicants to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute from the 2019 to 2020 cycle, 159 (31.9%) responded to a survey regarding their use of social media during the application process. In total, 54 (34%) responded that they used social media to evaluate residency programs.

Conclusion Departments of top 20 ophthalmology residency had both a greater presence and following on social media compared with other departments. While Facebook was the most used platform by ophthalmology departments, applicants most commonly used Instagram. As applicants come to use these social media resources more frequently, ophthalmology residency programs may increasingly benefit from maintaining an active social media page.

Perceptions, Knowledge, and Behaviors Related to COVID-19 Among Social Media Users: Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Social media is one of the most rapid and impactful ways of obtaining and delivering information in the modern era.

Objective

The aim of this study was to rapidly obtain information on public perceptions, knowledge, and behaviors related to COVID-19 in order to identify deficiencies in key areas of public education.

Methods

Using a cross-sectional study design, a survey web link was posted on the social media and messaging platforms Instagram, Twitter, and WhatsApp by the study investigators. Participants, aged ≥18 years, filled out the survey on a voluntary basis. The main outcomes measured were knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms, protective measures against COVID-19, and source(s) of information about COVID-19. Subgroup analyses were conducted to determine the effects of age, gender, underlying illness, and working or studying in the health care industry on the perceived likelihood of acquiring COVID-19 and getting vaccinated.

Results

A total of 5677 subjects completed the survey over the course of 1 week. “Fever or chills” (n=4973, 87.6%) and “shortness of breath” (n=4695, 82.7%) were identified as the main symptoms of COVID-19. Washing and sanitizing hands (n=4990, 87.9%) and avoiding public places and crowds (n=4865, 85.7%) were identified as the protective measures most frequently used against COVID-19. Social media was the most utilized source for information on the disease (n=4740, 83.5%), followed by the World Health Organization (n=2844, 50.1%). Subgroup analysis revealed that younger subjects (<35 years), males, and those working or studying in health care reported a higher perceived likelihood of acquiring COVID-19, whereas older subjects, females, and those working or studying in non–health care areas reported a lower perceived likelihood of acquiring COVID-19. Similar trends were observed for vaccination against COVID-19, with older subjects, females, and those working or studying in non–health care sectors reporting a lower likelihood of vaccinating against COVID-19.

Conclusions

Our results are indicative of a relatively well-informed cohort implementing appropriate protective measures. However, key knowledge deficiencies exist with regards to vaccination against COVID-19, which future efforts should aim at correcting.

The Online Sharing of Instagram Images for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Social media use related to chronic disease has become pervasive, yet little research has been done to examine how social media is currently used by healthcare consumers or how to best use various social media platforms to improve health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of Instagram use for image sharing related to #rheumatoidarthritis. A visual ethnography approach using content analysis was completed. Images for analysis (n = 106) were randomly selected, using the Instagram public search feature, during seven distinct periods. Content analysis, conducted by two coders, was used to identify categories and provide a sentiment analysis of the images. Approximately 75% of the images were determined to be positive by both coders. Social interaction and self-expression were the most frequently identified categories, suggesting that individuals use Instagram primarily for sharing awareness, sharing encouragement, and self-expression regarding rheumatoid arthritis. This finding is consistent with the use of Instagram for social networking and self-promotion. This study reveals new insights about how Instagram serves as a social, personal, and health-related information sharing platform particularly for those who may be socially isolated due to rheumatoid arthritis.

The infodemics of COVID-19 amongst healthcare professionals in India

BACKGROUND

There is a deluge of information and misinformation about COVID-19. The present survey was conducted to explore the sources of information /misinformation for healthcare professionals from India.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey using snowballing technique was conducted from 24 Mar to 10 Apr 2020. The questionnaire was pretested and developed using standard techniques. It was circulated among medical students and physicians. Data were analysed using the STATA software.

RESULTS

Data of 758 participants were analysed. A total of 255 (33.6%) medical students, 335 (44.2%) nonspecialists and 168 (22.1%) specialists participated. The most common source of formal and informal information was official government websites and online news, respectively. A total of 517 (68.2%) participants accepted receiving misinformation. Social media and family and friends were the most common sources of misinformation. Seventy-two percent of participants agreed that spread of information helped to contain COVID-19, but more than that 75% agreed to having received inaccurate information. Seventy-four percent of respondents felt the need for regulation of information during such times; 26% and 33% felt that information about COVID-19 made them feel uncomfortable and distracts routine decision-making, respectively, and 50% felt it was difficult to differentiate correct from incorrect information about COVID-19.

CONCLUSION

The study explored the sources of information and misinformation and found a high prevalence of misinformation, especially from social media. We suggest the need to better manage the flow of information so that it can be an effective weapon against SARS-CoV2. There is a need for doctors to adapt to the changing times of infodemics accompanying pandemics.

Recruiting Medical Students for a First Responder Project in the Social Age: Direct Contact Still Outperforms Social Media

Introduction

Efficient recruitment of first responders (FRs) is crucial for long-term success of any FR project. FRs are laypersons who are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), medical professionals, and firemen, police officers, and other professions with a duty of help. As social media are widely used for rapid communication, we carried out a prospective observational study to test the hypothesis that recruitment of FRs via social media is more efficient than recruitment via direct face-to-face contact.

Methods

Following ethics committee agreement, we informed 600 medical students about becoming FRs when they attended a didactic lecture about the FR project or during their mandatory CPR-course. Furthermore, recruitment was opened to medical students through Facebook, which accessed ∼1,000 medical students to see if they expressed interest in becoming FRs. All of the recruited students successfully completed the FR training. We then used an online questionnaire to ask these students how they had been recruited.

Results

Out of 63 registered student FRs, 59 responded to the online questionnaire. Overall, 15.3% of these FR students were recruited via social media. The majority (78.0%) were recruited through direct contact.

Conclusions

Despite widespread use of social media, over three-quarters of these medical students were recruited to the FR project via direct personal contact. This suggests that the advantage of a larger reachable population using social media does not outweigh the impact of personal contact with experts.

pathCast: An Interactive Medical Education Curriculum That Leverages Livestreaming on Facebook and YouTube

PROBLEM

Global connectivity and awareness have significantly increased over the past 3 decades, yet medical education remains mostly unchanged in its delivery-local didactic teaching, supplemented with hands-on clinical experiences.

APPROACH

Beginning in 2016, the authors leveraged the livestreaming capabilities of Facebook and YouTube to create a platform called pathCast to broadcast pathology lectures to an international community of medical professionals. An interactive pathology curriculum was designed to address challenging topics across various subspecialties. Expert pathologists were invited to deliver 60-minute lectures using digital or glass slides or traditional slide decks. Remote (online) attendees interacted with lecturers in real time using the broadcasts' chat interface. Facebook's and YouTube's analytics were evaluated to assess the performance of all lectures.

OUTCOMES

From June 2016 to December 4, 2019, 53 speakers delivered 87 lectures representing 18 pathology subspecialties in 9 different languages (with 78 [89.7%] in English only) and from various geographic regions. The lectures hosted on the Facebook channel have garnered 8,333 followers and 52,171 views for a total of 386,200 minutes of watch time, and the lectures hosted on the YouTube channel have accumulated 5,891 subscribers and 292,735 views for a total of 50,674 hours of watch time. The lectures have been viewed by users from 1,093 unique cities across 124 countries.

NEXT STEPS

The authors will continue to develop the curriculum to further disseminate pathology education on a global scale.

#Urogyn: What's Trending on Instagram? A Cross-sectional Observational Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to identify the prevalence, authorship, and type of information pertaining to topics in urogynecology on Instagram via hashtag and content analysis.

METHODS

A list of 20 hashtags consisting of common urogynecologic diagnoses, procedures, and lay terms was derived from the American Urogynecologic Society's "Patient Fact Sheets." The top 9 and most recent 30 posts for each hashtag were reviewed for authorship and content type. Content type was divided into the following categories: educational; tagged but unrelated posts; pertinent patient experiences; community building and outreach; advertisements; and humor. Searches were limited to English language posts.

RESULTS

Our search yielded 561,133 posts. The 5 most popular hashtags were pelvic floor (30.6%, n = 171,855), interstitial cystitis (12.8%, n = 71,977), pelvic pain (10.0%, n = 56,505), incontinence (9.3%, n = 52,169), and prolapse (3.9%, n = 21,839). The authorship of the top 9 and most recent 30 posts (n = 537) were as follows: patients (34.6%, n = 186), allied health professionals (29.2%, n = 157), physicians (13.4%, n = 72), and other (22.7%, n = 122). Further authorship and content analysis revealed that allied health professionals authored the most informational posts (45.6%, n = 129) and patients authored the most unrelated (69.4%, n = 43), patient experience (81.7%, n = 125), community building (55.8%, n = 53), and humorous posts (38.5%, n = 10).

CONCLUSIONS

More than 500,000 posts related to urogynecology were identified on Instagram. Most posts were authored by patients and allied health professionals with a small contribution from physicians. Greater physician participation may increase the quantity of educational posts and offer a low-cost platform for networking and connecting with patients and other providers.

Use of Personal Communication Devices in Clinical Settings: Perception of Staff Nurses

OBJECTIVE

This survey study describes how nurses use personal communication devices while providing direct patient care and identifies generational differences.

BACKGROUND

Personal communication devices enhance and distract from patient care. Generational differences exist and these should be included in workplace policies.

METHODS

A study-specific survey was developed. Data were collected from 335 qualified participants and descriptively analyzed in total, then by generational specific study groups.

RESULTS

The perception of these participants is that personal communication devices do not pose a serious work distraction nor have a negative effect on patient care. Yet generational differences exist related to the presence of these devices in providing patient care.

CONCLUSIONS

Access to personal communication devices, while at work, is an expectation. The reasons for accessing these devices, and the perception that these devices have a negative impact on work performance, should be included when developing workplace policies.

Non-Scholastic Qualities and their Association with Social Media usage among Medical Students in Puducherry, India

BACKGROUND

Non-scholastic qualities, namely personal characteristics, interpersonal activities, and communication skills, are needed for the effective functioning of a medical professional. The study aimed to assess non-scholastic qualities and their association with social media usage among medical students.

METHODS

This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study in a tertiary care medical institution in Puducherry, coastal south India. The non-scholastic qualities were assessed by standard questionnaire and categorised as low, moderate and high qualities. Social media usage was assessed by SONTUS (Social Networking Time Use Scale) and the participants were categorised as low, average, high, and extremely high users. Multiple logistic regression analysis was done.

RESULTS

Out of 270 medical students, 63% belonged to the moderate non-scholastic quality category. About 36% of the students had high non-scholastic quality. Most of the students were extremely high users of social media (60%). About 48% (47/98) of students with high non-scholastic qualities had extremely high social media usage, while 67% (115/172) of students with low and moderate non-scholastic qualities had extremely high social media usage, and both the associations were statistically significant (P = 0.003). Those with a high level of social media usage had 2.27 times (95% CI: 1.239-4.166) higher non-scholastic qualities compared to extremely high social media usage.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority had moderate non-scholastic qualities and extremely high use of social media.

Social Media Usage Among Nurses: Perceptions and Practices

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to examine the existing perceptions and social media practices of nurses in a large academic medical center.

BACKGROUND

Limited data are available about the perceptions and social media practices among healthcare providers. An understanding of the social networking landscape within the nursing profession is necessary to inform policy and develop effective guidelines.

METHODS

This was a single-center prospective observational study involving nurses at a large academic medical center. Nurses completed an anonymous questionnaire regarding their personal use and perceptions of social media in the context of clinical medicine.

RESULTS

A total of 397 nurses participated in the study survey. Overall, 87% of participants reported using a general social media account currently. Increasing age was associated with decreasing frequency of social media use.

CONCLUSION

Social media usage is common among nurses. Social media perceptions and practices among nurses vary considerably. Well-informed policy and targeted education are needed to guide social media use among healthcare workers.

Healthcare practitioners' views of social media as an educational resource

Social media is increasingly utilized as a resource in healthcare. We sought to identify perceptions of using social media as an educational tool among healthcare practitioners. An electronic survey was distributed to healthcare administrators, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physicians, and physician assistants f hospital systems and affiliated health science schools in Georgia, Maryland, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. Survey questions evaluated respondents' use and views of social media for educational purposes and workplace accessibility using a Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree). Nurses (75%), pharmacists (11%), and administrators (7%) were the most frequent respondents. Facebook® (27%), Pinterest® (17%), and Instagram® (17%) were the most frequently accessed social media platforms. Nearly 85% agreed or strongly agreed that social media can be an effective tool for educational purposes. Among those who had social media platforms, 43.0% use them for educational purposes. Pinterest® (30%), Facebook® (22%), LinkedIn® (16%), and Twitter® (14%) were most frequently used for education. About 50% of respondents had limited or no access to social media at work. Administrators, those with unlimited and limited work access, and respondents aged 20-29 and 30-39 years were more likely to agree that social media is an educational tool (OR: 3.41 (95% CI 1.31 to 8.84), 4.18 (95% CI 2.30 to 7.60), 1.66 (95% CI 1.22 to 2.25), 4.40 (95% CI 2.80 to 6.92), 2.14 (95% CI 1.53 to 3.01) respectively). Residents, physicians, and those with unlimited access were less likely to agree with allowing social media access at work for educational purposes only. Healthcare practitioners frequently utilize social media, and many believe it can be an effective educational tool in healthcare.

Use of smartphone-based instant messaging services in medical practice: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Instant messaging services (IMS) are widely used in medical practice.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate perceptions regarding use and usability of IMS within clinical practice and assess users' knowledge of the ethical and legal context involved in using IMS within medical practice.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Cross-sectional study conducted in different hospitals and medical institutions in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

METHODS

Medical students, medical residents, primary care physicians and specialist doctors answered an online questionnaire regarding epidemiological data, graduation level and use of IMS for medical communication. Responses were collected over a five-month period and data were assessed using the IBM-SPSS software.

RESULTS

484 people answered the questionnaire: 97.0% declared that they were using IMS for medical-related purposes; 42.0%, to elucidate medical concerns every week; 75.0%, to share imaging or laboratory tests and patients' medical records; and 90.5%, to participate in clinical case-study private groups. Moreover, only 37.0% declared that they had knowledge of the legislative aspects of use of smartphones within clinical practice. Differences in the frequency of discussion of medical concerns within the daily routine between student/residents and general practitioners/specialists, and in the frequency of image-sharing and patient-guiding/assistance between students and medical doctors, were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results provide reliable proof that medical doctors and students use IMS, as a tool for clinical case discussions, interactions between healthcare providers and patients, or dissemination of knowledge and information. Nonetheless, because of limitations to the ethical and legal regulations, evidence-based discussions between authorities, academics and medical institutions are needed in order to fully achieve positive outcomes from such platforms.

Physicians' Attitude towards The Use of Social Media for Professional Purposes in Saudi Arabia

Purpose

In relation to this research, only a few studies have been carried out around the world. However, in Saudi Arabia, there have been no investigations into this subject. In this sense, the objective of this study was to investigate the physicians' attitudes towards the use of social media for professional purposes in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 235 physicians from different regions of Saudi Arabia. The data were collected by means of a survey. The survey questionnaire was distributed using the WhatsApp application. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results.

Results

The most common social media used by the respondents was Facebook, and the majority of the participants agreed that social media improved their knowledge and skills. However, most of the participants did not interact with patients using these tools, did not feel comfortable conducting an online consultation, and believed that social media affected the choice of the healthcare provider. Similarly, 30.6% of the respondents opined that it is not appropriate to search online information about patients, and 44.3% of them considered that patients would not trust the medical advice if a physician obtained the information from a website.

Conclusion

The results showed that the majority of the respondents considered that social media improved the knowledge and abilities of physicians. In addition, the respondents reflected that there were ethical issues that must be taken into account when using social media and more than half of them did not interact with their patients employing these tools. The outcomes of this research will help to develop programs directed at the physicians in Saudi Arabia to enhance their knowledge, professional skills, medicine practice, patient-doctor interaction, and handle the risks involved in the use of social media.

Use of social media for communicating about critical care topics: A Norwegian cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Social media (SoMe) might be an alternative platform for communicating critical care topics to implement evidence-based practice in the intensive care unit (ICU). This survey aims to describe ICU nurses' and physicians' use of SoMe in general, and their perception of using closed Facebook-groups for receiving content on critical care topics.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, web-based, anonymous survey was distributed to ICU physicians and nurses in four ICUs in autumn 2017 via an email-campaign. Descriptive statistics with rates, percentages and median numeric rating scale (NRS) scores, interquartile ranges are presented.

RESULTS

The response-rate was 64% (253/ 394) including 210 nurses and 43 physicians. Overall, 93% had a SoMe-profile, and 77% had a profile on more than one network site. Facebook was the most used social network site, with 87% having a profile. Totally, 68% were daily users, but more nurses used Facebook daily vs physicians (81% vs 60%, respectively, P = 0.006). Nurses were also more positive toward being members of closed Facebook-groups aimed to exchange content on critical care topics (median NRS 9 (6-10) vs 6 (3-9), respectively, P = 0.014).

CONCLUSION

The majority of ICU nurses and physicians were active SoMe users, mainly for personal purposes, and Facebook was the most popular SoMe. Nurses used Facebook daily more frequent and were more positive toward content on critical care topics on Facebook than physicians. These findings might be relevant to customize future communication about critical care topics via SoMe.

Potential Role of Twitter at an Annual Congress in Japan - Narrative Literature Review of "Tweet the Meeting"

Background: Twitter has become increasingly popular at annual medical congresses as a platform to communicate to attendees. In contrast, Twitter is not as frequently used in Japan as compared with other countries. Herein, we reviewed the literature and discuss the potential role and risks of “tweet the meeting” in Japan.

Methods and Results: We performed a literature review to consider the recent trend of tweeting the meeting, including benefits and how to tweet, as well as potential risks. Upon officially deciding to tweet the meeting, a number of societies and professional organizations developed strategies to enhance the attendees’ experience using multiple modalities and guides. Although there are several risks, we provide a concise guide to tweeting the meeting for the Japanese audience, which could be useful for understanding what should be done before and during a conference.

Conclusions: The use of Twitter at medical congresses has many possibilities, and there are numerous potentials in many areas. We should discuss this in the light of the benefits for congress attendees in Japan.

Advancing the Mission of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Through Innovation in Teaching

BACKGROUND

Consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatry, similar to other medical specialties, relies on the education of students, residents, fellows, and life-long learners for growth of the field. C-L psychiatry is unique as it exists at the intersection of psychiatry with other medical subspecialties. Traditional teaching methods have been used in C-L psychiatry programs for more than 50 years, while technology has recently advanced as available resources and the learning styles of today's learners have evolved. A growing number of younger trainees are taking advantage of new ways to learn.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to examine both traditional and novel teaching methodologies and how each of these educational methodologies fits within adult learning theory and in the context of how digital natives learn about C-L psychiatry.

METHODS

In this narrative review, we drew upon the experiences of the authors as both life-long learners and educators. We then reviewed the literature pertaining to teaching methods that have been used in C-L psychiatry as well as emerging methods that could potentially be used in C-L psychiatry.

RESULTS

C-L psychiatry has used traditional teaching methods such as readings, didactic lectures, case-based rounds, and problem-based learning. Novel teaching methodologies such as teaching rotations, simulations, social media, podcasts, movie clubs, and the use of mobile tablet computers have been used in general psychiatry and other medical specialties, while literature specific to C-L psychiatry was sparse.

CONCLUSIONS

Opportunities abound to make use of new teaching methodologies and technologies to appeal to future generations of C-L psychiatrists.

Using social media to disseminate research in infection prevention, hospital epidemiology, and antimicrobial stewardship

Social media, prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial stewardship (ASP) each impact every area of medicine. Independently, each have power to change medicine, however, synergistically, the impact could be transformative. Given the profound clinical, financial, and public health impact of infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship combined with the incomplete uptake of best practices, multimodal strategies employing social media are critical to increase the speed and reach of research. This review discusses the strategic utilization of online communication platforms to increase the dissemination of critical publications.

Social media usage and online professionalism among registered nurses: A cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Owing to its convenience and easy accessibility, social media is increasingly popular among healthcare professionals and has become a useful tool in the healthcare industry. Doctors' social media use patterns and online professionalism have been thoroughly studied. Various unprofessional behaviors such as excessive self-disclosure, violations of patient privacy and improper social media posts, were observed. However, studies exploring nurses' social media use and online professionalism are lacking.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to understand the social media use and online professionalism of Chinese registered nurses.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey was adopted.

SETTINGS

Eight nursing conferences and one continuing-education program that took place in Sichuan, China.

PARTICIPANTS

Convenience sampling was applied to select nurses who had obtained their Chinese nursing certificates, who were aged 18 years and above, and who worked in clinical settings. The final sample consisted of 658 registered nurses.

METHODS

Data were collected through the on-site distribution of an anonymous researcher-designed questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 41 items that focused on demographic and professional information, social media use and online professionalism. Medians, averages and percentages were used to describe the social media use patterns and online professionalism of Chinese registered nurses.

RESULTS

All participants in this study were social media users and 84.5% of them believed that social media had positively influenced their clinical practice. WeChat was the most frequently used form of social media, which was used among 93.5% of the subjects. Common reasons for social media use included receiving messages from work, networking, receiving news and relaxing. Approximately 56% of the participants spent one to three hours on social media daily. Most of the participants had reposted medical knowledge on social media and had subscribed to at least one medical social media account. Additionally, 67.2% of the sample disclosed that they "often" communicate work-related information with colleagues via social media. Roughly 50% of the sample insisted that their facilities had social media guidelines. Registered nurses' professionalism was also assessed. Around half of the participants had received "friend request" from patients, while 63.5% of the sample acknowledged that there were no patients on their most frequently used social media platforms. About 7.6% of the respondents had "sometimes" posted identifiable patient information, which was much lower than the reported 32.5% rate of witnessing colleagues' disclosure of identifiable patient information. Fully 50.3% of the participants indicated that they had witnessed improper posts by colleagues.

Adolescent Perspectives on the Use of Social Media to Support Type 1 Diabetes Management: Focus Group Study

Background

A majority of adolescents report the use of some form of social media, and many prefer to communicate via social networking sites. Social media may offer new opportunities in diabetes management, particularly in terms of how health care teams provide tailored support and treatment to adolescents with diabetes.

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and perspectives of adolescents with type 1 diabetes on the feasibility of social media use as a tool to collaboratively manage their diabetes with their diabetes care team.

Methods

Focus groups of adolescents with type 1 diabetes were conducted in the Seattle metropolitan area in Washington State. Semistructured questions were used to elicit views around the preferred means of communication with the adolescents’ diabetes care team, how to best support diabetes self-management, and how social media could be used outside of the clinic setting by the diabetes care team to engage with adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content analysis was carried out, and emergent themes were subsequently mapped onto 4 domains of feasibility, which included acceptability, demand, implementation, and practicality.

Results

Participants included 45 adolescents with type 1 diabetes (mean age 15.9, SD 1.7 years; 58% male; diabetes duration mean 6.2, SD 3.6 years; 76% on insulin pumps; 49% wore continuous glucose monitors; 93% reported use of social media; 84% used smartphones as the primary means for social media access). A total of 7 major topics were identified and mapped onto areas consistent with our focus on feasibility. For acceptability and demand, participants expressed how communication over social media could help facilitate (1) improved communication outside of clinic visits to optimize diabetes management, (2) independence in diabetes self-management, (3) connection to other youth with diabetes for additional diabetes support, and (4) delivery of more timely and personalized care. Addressing implementation and practicality, participants shared the need to (1) ensure patient privacy, (2) maintain professional nature of provider-patient relationship, and (3) recognize that social media is not currently used for medical care by youth with diabetes.

Conclusions

Adolescents with type 1 diabetes expressed interest in the use of social media as a tool to support diabetes management and increase engagement with their diabetes care team. Specific implementation measures around privacy and professionalism should be considered when developing a social media intervention to facilitate communication between adolescents and care teams.

Perception among Healthcare Professionals of the Use of Social Media in Translating Research Evidence into Clinical Practice in Mangalore

Introduction

Social media has a potential to bring about major changes in the healthcare system.

Objective

To find out the pattern of use of social media among healthcare professionals (HCPs) and perception, facilitators, and barriers of using social media, to translate evidence into clinical practice.

Method

We conducted a cross-sectional study among 196 HCPs of institutions attached to a university using a self-administered questionnaire.

Result

97.3% used social media; however, only 63.4% used it for research. YouTube was the most preferred media. Majority of people believed that social media enables wide range of evidence over the shorter span of time, poses a threat to privacy, and cannot replace face to face interaction. Perceived barriers were the privacy concern, unprofessional behavior, lack of reliability, and information overload.

Conclusion

There is a need for the development of appropriate guidelines for sharing the research output among various stakeholders using social media.