Social Media in Hip Arthroscopy Is an Underused Resource That Enhances Physician Online Reputation

Perceived outcomes of periacetabular osteotomy

Aims

Social media is a popular resource for patients seeking medical information and sharing experiences. periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is the gold-standard treatment for symptomatic acetabular dysplasia with good long-term outcomes. However, little is known regarding the perceived outcomes of PAO on social media. The aims of this study were to describe the perceived outcomes following PAO using three social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).

Methods

Facebook, Instagram, and X posts were retrospectively collected from 1 February 2023. Facebook posts were collected from the two most populated interest groups: "periacetabular osteotomy" and "PAO Australia." Instagram and X posts were queried using the most popular hashtags: #PAOwarrior, #periacetabularosteotomy, #periacetabularosteotomyrecovery, #PAOsurgery, and #PAOrecovery. Posts were assessed for demographic data (sex, race, location), perspective (patient, physician, professional organization, industry), timing (preoperative vs postoperative), and perceived outcome (positive, negative, neutral).

Results

A total of 1,054 Facebook posts, 1,003 Instagram posts, and 502 X posts were consecutively assessed from 887 unique authors. The majority (63.3%) of these posts were from patients in the postoperative period, with a median of 84 days postoperatively (interquartile range 20 to 275). The longest follow-up timeframe postoperatively was 20 years. Regarding perceived outcomes, 52.8% expressed satisfaction, 39.7% held neutral opinions, and 7.5% were dissatisfied. Most dissatisfied patients (50.9%) reported pain (chronic or uncontrolled acute) as an attributing factor.

Conclusion

Most PAO-perceived surgical outcomes on social media had a positive tone. Findings also indicate that a small percentage of patients reported negative perceived outcomes. However, dissatisfaction with PAO primarily stemmed from postoperative pain. Social media posts from other sources (physicians, hospitals, professional organizations, etc.) trend towards neutrality. Healthcare providers must consider the social media narratives of patients following PAO, as they may reveal additional outcome expectations and help improve patient-centred care, create informed decision-making, and optimize treatment outcomes.

Social Media and Digital Footprints in Orthopaedic Trauma: An Analysis of 1465 Orthopaedic Trauma Association Members

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to quantify social media usage among Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) members.

METHODS

All active OTA members were searched for involvement among common social media platforms. Surgeons were then classified as "active" on any given social media site if they posted within the past 6 months. Surgeons were also identified by the region they practiced in, sex, and their practice setting (academic vs. private). Finally, a surgeon's score and number of reviews from common physician review websites were examined.

RESULTS

A total of 1465 OTA members were included in the analysis. Most surgeons were male (89.1% [n = 1305]) and practiced in a private setting (54.5% [n = 799]). A total of 590 surgeons (40.3%) had at least one form of social media account. Social media sites most used were LinkedIn with 48.7% (n = 713) and ResearchGate with 29.2% (n = 428). Academic surgeons were more likely to have a ResearchGate, LinkedIn, and Twitter account while private surgeons were more likely to have a personal website ( P < 0.05). Finally, there was no correlation between surgeons more active on social media and average scores on Vitals.com or Healthgrade.com ( P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Most orthopaedic trauma surgeons do not have professional social media accounts. Although social media may help spread scholarship, having a professional social media account does not correlate with better online physician reviews or increased online reviews among orthopaedic trauma surgeons.

Use of Social Media in Orthopaedic Surgery Training and Practice: A Systematic Review

Background

Social media use has grown across healthcare delivery and practice, with dramatic changes occurring in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive systematic review to determine the current landscape of social media use by (1) orthopaedic surgery residencies/fellowship training programs and (2) individual orthopaedic surgeons and the change in use over time.

Methods

We searched 3 electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase) from their inception to April 2022 for all studies that analyzed the use of social media in orthopaedic surgery. Two reviewers independently determined study eligibility, rated study quality, and extracted data. Methodology was in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Results

Twenty-eight studies were included, of which 11 analyzed social media use by orthopaedic surgery residency and fellowship training programs and 17 examined its use by individual orthopaedic surgeons. Among residency and fellowship programs, Instagram was identified as the most common platform used, with 42% to 88% of programs reporting program-specific Instagram accounts, followed by Twitter/X (20%-52%) and Facebook (10%-38%). Social media was most commonly used by programs for recruitment and information dissemination to prospective residency applicants (82% and 73% of included studies, respectively). After the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a 620% and 177% increase in the number of training programs with Instagram and Twitter/X accounts, respectively. Individual use of social media ranged from 1.7% to 76% (Twitter/X), 10% to 73% (Facebook), 0% to 61% (Instagram), 22% to 61% (LinkedIn), and 6.5% to 56% (YouTube).

Conclusions

Instagram, Twitter/X, and Facebook are the premier platforms that patients, residency applicants, and institutions frequent. With the continued growth of social media use anticipated, it will be critical for institutions and individuals to create and abide by guidelines outlining respectful and professional integration of social media into practice.

Level of Evidence

Level IV.

Perceptions of social media utilization among orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons

BACKGROUND

The growing social media presence in healthcare has provided physicians with new ways to engage with patients. However, foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons have been found to underuse social media platforms despite their known benefits for patients and surgeons. Thus, this study sought to investigate the reasons for this phenomenon and to identify potential barriers to social media utilization in clinical practice.

METHODS

A 19-question survey was distributed to active attending physicians identified through the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society membership database. The survey included demographic, practice characteristics, and social media use questions assessed by a 5-point Likert scale. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of positive attitudes toward social media.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight surgeons were included. Most respondents were male (n = 43, 74.1%), in private practice (n = 31, 53.5%), and described their practice to be greater than 51% elective procedures (n = 46, 79.4%). The average years in practice was 14.8 years (standard deviation, SD: 10.0 years). A total of 32.8% (n = 19) of surgeons reported using social media as part of their clinical practice. Facebook (n = 19, 32.8%), a professional website or blog (n = 18, 31.0%), and LinkedIn (n = 15, 25.9%) were the most used platforms-primarily for practice marketing or brand development (n = 19, 32.8%). A total of 58.6% (n = 34) of surgeons reported they did not use social media. The primary reasons were the time commitment (n = 31, 53.5%), concerns about obscuring professional boundaries (n = 22, 37.9%), and concerns regarding confidentiality (n = 11, 19.0%). Many surgeons reported that social media positively influences foot and ankle surgery (n = 23, 39.7%), although no individual predictors for these views could be identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons tended to view social media use positively, but the time investment and concerns over professionalism and confidentiality pose challenges to its use. Given the influence of a surgeon's social media identity on patient satisfaction and practice building, efforts should be made to streamline social media use for foot and ankle surgeons to establish their online presence.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, cross-sectional study.

Social Media Use Among Arthroscopic and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Specialists Varies by Subspeciality

Purpose

To evaluate active social media use among members of the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) and investigate differences in social media use based on joint-specific subspecialization.

Methods

The AANA membership directory was queried to identify all active, residency-trained orthopaedic surgeons within the United States. Sex, practice location, and academic degrees earned were recorded. Google searches were conducted to find professional Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube accounts along with institutional and personal websites. The primary outcome was the Social Media Index (SMI) score, an aggregate measure of social media use across key platforms. A Poisson regression model was constructed to compare SMI scores across joint-specific subspecializations: knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, foot & ankle, and wrist. Specialization in the treatment of each joint was collected using binary indicator variables. Since surgeons were specialized in multiple groups, comparisons were made between those who do and do not treat each joint.

Results

In total, 2,573 surgeons within the United States met the inclusion criteria. 64.7% had ownership of at least 1 active account, with an average SMI score of 2.29 ± 1.59. Western practicing surgeons had a significantly greater presence on at least 1 website than those in the Northeast (P = .003, P < .001) and South (P = .005, P = .002). Social media use by knee, hip, shoulder, and elbow surgeons was greater relative to those who did not treat those respective joints (P < .001 for all). Poisson regression analysis demonstrated that knee, shoulder, or wrist specialization was a significant positive predictor of a greater SMI score (P ≤ .001 for all). Foot & ankle specialization was a negative predictor (P < .001), whereas hip (P = .125) and elbow (P = .077) were not significant predictors.

Conclusions

Social media use widely varies across joint subspecialties within orthopaedic sports medicine. Knee and shoulder surgeons had a greater social media use than their counterparts, whereas foot & ankle surgeons had the lowest social media use.

Clinical Relevance

Social media is a vital source of information for both patients and surgeons, providing a means for marketing, networking, and education. It is important to identify variations in social media use by orthopaedic surgeons by subspecialty and explore the differences.

Internet and Social Media Contribute to Medical Research Journal Growth

In 2010, our editorial team wrote about the Internet's inarguable role in overloading information on our readers. In this editorial, we reflect on insights gained, mostly in the past decade, regarding the Internet and social media. Medical and surgical information online is easy to obtain, but it varies from platform to platform, is low in quality and reliability, and overestimates the public's ability to decipher the information. Physicians do not use social media enough, or well. Social media can engage patients and can inform patients about the quality of medical and surgical information online. Physicians, themselves, can provide reliable information that informs patients and eases their minds. Physician-authors can use social media to develop communities with shared interests in research; members of these communities can post research findings and highlight the publications in which they find them. Discussion of research online increases the likelihood that it will be cited. It is no surprise that the Internet and social media have contributed to the growth of Arthroscopy; Arthroscopy Techniques; and Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation.