OHNS Residency Program and Applicant Social Media Presence During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Trends in Twitter Utilization Among Academic Otolaryngologists

OBJECTIVE

To characterize Twitter utilization among academic otolaryngologists and evaluate the relationship between Twitter utilization and research productivity.

METHODS

Data were collected manually from accredited US otolaryngology residency programs from July-November 2021. Program and faculty demographics were documented, including citations and H-index for faculty and Doximity reputation and US News and World Report ranking for programs. Twitter metrics were also recorded. Descriptive analyses and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of Twitter utilization.

RESULTS

Currently, 333 (16%) faculty and 70 (62%) programs have a Twitter account. Of these, 36 (11%) and 27 (39%), respectively, were created in 2020. The regression model indicates that for each 5 unit increase in H-index, the odds of having a Twitter account increase 22% (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.10-1.34, p = 0.0009). The number of faculty with a Twitter account predicts the existence of program Twitter accounts (OR:1.49, 95% CI 1.01-2.19, p = 0.04). Finally, of the 323 faculty with a Twitter account and available Scopus profile, we found that the number of individuals with Twitter use out of proportion to their academic productivity was low (n = 8/323).

CONCLUSION

The H-index is a significant predictor of faculty Twitter accounts, whereas the number of faculty with Twitter is a significant predictor of program Twitter utilization. Although Twitter utilization is increasing, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, the findings indicate that there is ample room for growth, particularly amongst faculty with strong academic portfolios.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA Laryngoscope, 134:1190-1196, 2024.

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.

Social Media Utilization in Otolaryngology: A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVE

Social media (SM) is an increasingly popular medium for the medical community to engage with patients, trainees, and colleagues. This review aimed to identify reported uses of SM in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS), assess the quality of evidence supporting these uses, and identify gaps in the literature. With the relative lack of regulatory guidelines for the development of SM content, we hypothesized that the quality of content available on SM would be highly variable.

DATA SOURCES AND METHODS

A scoping review was performed of English-language peer-reviewed studies published to date discussing SM use in any form within OHNS. Three reviewers independently screened all abstracts. Two reviewers independently extracted data of interest from the full text of articles identified from the preliminary abstract screen.

RESULTS

171 studies were included, with 94 (54.9%) studies published between 2020 and 2022. 104 (60.8%) studies were conducted in the US. 135 (78.9%) used cross-sectional or survey-based methodology; only 7 (4.1%) were controlled studies. SM was most commonly employed for professional networking (n = 37 [21%]), and within subspecialties of otology (n = 38 [22%]) and rhinology/allergy (n = 25 [15%]). Facebook was most frequently used for study recruitment (n = 23 [13.5%]), YouTube for patient education (n = 15 [14.6%]), and Twitter for professional networking (n = 16 [9.4%]).

CONCLUSION

SM use within OHNS is increasing rapidly, with applications including patient education, professional networking, and study recruitment. Despite myriad articles, there remains a paucity of well-controlled studies. As SM becomes integrated into healthcare, particularly for applications directly impacting patient care, higher levels of evidence are needed to understand its true impact. Laryngoscope, 133:2447-2456, 2023.

To tweet or not to tweet in otorhinolaryngology, that is the question

OBJECTIVE

To describe the scientific medical literature devoted to the various interactions between otorhinolaryngology (ORL) and social networks.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A literature search, conducted on December 15, 2021, using the search engine of the United States National Library of Medicine (PubMed) and the key-words "otorhinolaryngology", "social network", and "Twitter", retrieved 321 articles for which Abstracts were read for selection of articles with qualitative and quantitative data regarding the various relationships between ORL and social media.

RESULTS

Forty-four articles were selected and analyzed. Thirty-nine originated from the USA and none from France or French-speaking countries. Only 1 article was a prospective randomized study. Schematically, two main types of publication were identified. The first dealt with user interactions, topics discussed, teaching of the ORL specialty and publicizing research. The second dealt with the limits and dangers of this new means of publicizing scientific thinking in our specialty. Reading these articles highlighted the role of social media in publicizing ORL research, and suggested distinct options to improve interactions between otorhinolaryngologists, patients and society as a whole.

CONCLUSION

At a time when society is demanding rapid access to medical research findings, just as it is mandatory to master and adhere to the rules for medical writing in research, it is also now necessary to learn how to communicate via social media and send a tweet if one wishes to publicize its research and/or exchange with patients.

An Evaluation of Otolaryngology Residency Program Websites

INTRODUCTION

 Otolaryngology remains one of the most competitive specialties to match into during the residency application process. Medical students often apply to many programs to increase their chances of matching into a residency program and rely on residency websites to gather information about the programs they apply to. The purpose of this study was to determine the comprehensiveness of the information on otolaryngology residency program websites.

METHODS

One hundred twenty-two publicly available otolaryngology residency program websites were evaluated for the presence of 47 criteria. Size, geographic location, and affiliation with a Top 50 ranked hospital for ear, nose, and throat care, according to the US News and World Report, were determined for each program. Frequencies were calculated for each of the different residency website criteria and non-parametric comparisons were used to analyze the relationship between the location, size, and ranking of each program, and the comprehensiveness of the program website.

RESULTS

 An average of 19.1 items (SD: 6.6 items) out of the 47 searches were present on the otolaryngology residency program websites. More than 75% of the websites contained the following program features: facility descriptions, descriptions of didactics, and research requirements. A total of 89.3% of the websites had a current resident list, 87.7% of these websites had photos of their residents, and 86.9% had a program contact email. Otolaryngology residency programs affiliated with a Top ENT hospital had a higher average number of criteria satisfied (21.6 criteria) compared to those that were not affiliated (17.9 criteria).

CONCLUSION

 The inclusion of research selection criteria, call schedule/requirements, average Step 2 scores of matched residents, and social aspects of residency could improve otolaryngology residency applicant satisfaction with residency program websites. Updating otolaryngology residency websites will assist prospective applicants as they apply to a wide variety of residency programs.

Social Media Presence Is Associated With Diversity and Application Volume for Orthopedic Surgery Residency Programs

The purpose of this study was to assess the association between social media presence (Twitter and Instagram), diversity in orthopedic surgery residency programs, and the number of applications received by a program. Data from Twitter and Instagram for 179 orthopedic residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education were collected, including the presence of a social media account, date of first post, number of posts, and number of followers. Residency program data were collected from the Association of American Medical Colleges Residency Explorer Tool and included percentage of Whiteresidents, percentage of male residents, residency ranking, and number of applications submitted during the 2019 application cycle. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed with adjustment for program ranking. Of 179 residency programs, 34.6% (n=62) had Twitter, and 16.7% (n=30) had Instagram. Overall, 39.7% (n=71) had a social media presence, defined as having at least one of the two forms of social media. Programs with social media presences had higher average rankings (48.1 vs 99.6 rank, P<.001). After adjusting for program ranking, social media presence was associated with increased applications during the 2019 application cycle (odds ratio [OR]=2.76, P=.010). Social media presence was associated with increased odds of gender diversity (OR=3.07, P=.047) and racial diversity (OR=2.21, P=.041). Individually, Twitter presence was associated with increased odds of gender (OR=4.81, P=.018) and racial diversity (OR=4.00, P=.021), but Instagram was not (P>.05). Social media presence is associated with more residency program applications and increased resident diversity. Social media can be used to highlight inclusivity measures and related opportunities. [Orthopedics. 2023;46(1):47-53.].

Frequency and Characteristics of Social Media Use among General Surgery Trainees

INTRODUCTION

With increased social isolation due to COVID-19, social media has been increasingly adopted for communication, education, and entertainment. We sought to understand the frequency and characteristics of social media usage among general surgery trainees.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

General surgery trainees in 15 American training programs were invited to participate in an anonymous electronic survey. The survey included questions about demographics, frequency of social media usage, and perceptions of risks and benefits of social media. Univariate analysis was performed to identify differences between high users of social media (4-7 h per week on at least one platform) and low users (0-3 h or less on all platforms).

RESULTS

One hundred fifty-seven of 591 (26.6%) trainees completed the survey. Most respondents were PGY3 or lower (75%) and high users of social media (74.5%). Among high users, the most popular platforms were Instagram (85.7%), YouTube (85.1%), and Facebook (83.6%). YouTube and Twitter were popular for surgical education (77.3% and 68.2%, respectively). The most reported benefits of social media were improving patient education and professional networking (85.0%), where high users agreed more strongly about these benefits (P = 0.002). The most reported risks were seeing other residents (42%) or attendings (17%) with unprofessional behavior. High users disagreed more strongly about risks, including observing attendings with unprofessional behavior (P = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONS

Most respondents were high users of social media, particularly Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. High users incorporated social media into their surgical education while perceiving more benefits and fewer risks of social media.

Social media growth of orthopaedic surgery residency programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

In the Spring of 2020, residency programs across the country experienced rapid and drastic changes to their application process as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In response, residency programs shifted to virtual events and began harnessing social media to communicate with applicants.

AIM

To analyze the changes in social media usage by orthopaedic surgery programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Based on the 2019 residency and fellowship electronic database, accredited US orthopaedic surgery programs were reviewed for social media presence on Instagram and Twitter. Approximately 47000 tweets from 2011-2021 were extracted through the Twitter application programming interface. We extracted: Total number of followers, accounts following, tweets, likes, date of account creation, hashtags, and mentions. Natural language processing was utilized for tweet sentiment analysis and classified as positive, neutral, or negative. Instagram data was collected and deemed current as of August 11, 2021. The account foundation date analysis was based on the date recognized as the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, before or after March 1, 2020.

RESULTS

A total of 85 (42.3%) orthopaedic surgery residency program Twitter handles were identified. Thirty-five (41.2%) programs joined Twitter in the nine months after the 2020 covid outbreak. In 2020, there was a 126.6% increase in volume of tweets by orthopaedic surgery residency accounts as compared to 2019. The median number of followers was 474.5 (interquartile range 205.0-796.5). The account with the highest number of tweets was Hospital for Special Surgery (@HSpecialSurgery) with 13776 tweets followed by University of Virginia (@UVA_Ortho) with 5063 and Yale (@OrthoAtYale) with 899. Sentiment analysis before 2020 revealed 30.4% positive, 60.8% neutral, and 8.8% negative sentiments across tweets. Interestingly, the positive sentiment percentage increased in 2020 from 30.4% to 34.5%. Of the 201 ACGME-accredited orthopaedic residency programs on Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database, 115 (57.2%) participate on Instagram, with 101 (87.8%) identified as “resident”-managed vs 14 (12.2%) identified as “department”-managed. Over three quarters (77.4%) of Instagram accounts were created after March 1, 2020. The average number of followers per account was 1089.5 with an average of 58.9 total posts.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates a substantial growth of Instagram and Twitter presence by orthopaedic surgery residency programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. These data suggest that orthopaedic residency programs have utilized social media as a new way to communicate with applicants and showcase their programs in light of the challenges presented by the pandemic.

Otolaryngology Residency Match During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective

To review changes made by otolaryngology residency program directors (PDs) during the 2020-2021 National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) match cycle and describe their attitudes toward the 2021-2022 match cycle.

Methods

Cross-sectional study using an anonymous 31-item online survey in Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) with questions regarding the 2020-2021 NRMP match. This survey was distributed to 125 PDs from Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited otolaryngology residency programs.

Results

Thirty-three PDs responded (26.4%). Of the PDs, 78.8% had an online info-session prior to the start of the cycle, and 30.3% reported that an increased number of applicants contacted them compared to the prior cycle. There were no changes made in Step 1 criteria (72.7%), and 81.8% reported no changes in interview selection. Of the PDs, 54.5% reported interviewing more candidates. Respondents reported a decreased cancellation rate (66.7%) and cost of recruiting (87.9%); 87.9% said that they did not change the way they developed their rank order list (ROL), and 84.8% reported matching at their usual level compared to prior years. Of the respondents, 42.4% reported making a change that was an overall improvement for their program. Of the PDs, 34.4% were unsure whether they would sustain virtual interviews in 2021-2022, 25% stated that they would not incorporate virtual interviews, and 40.7% stated that they would incorporate a virtual interview in some part of the cycle.

Conclusion

Otolaryngology PDs approached virtual interviewing in different ways. Despite the changes made, applicants can find comfort in knowing that match outcomes were perceived as typical by a majority of PDs.

Analysis of Social Media Perceptions Among Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Applicants and Social Media Use by Residency Programs During the 2020 to 2021 Cycle

Owing to the coronavirus 2019 pandemic limiting both applicants and residency programs in their ability to connect in-person, it is likely that a shift toward virtual connections was made. We aimed to query applicants regarding their perspectives of orthopaedic residency program social media use. Furthermore, we aimed to quantify the number of orthopaedic surgery residency programs with active social media accounts.

The Digital Dilemma: Perspectives From Otolaryngology Residency Applicants on Social Media

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of otolaryngology programs' social media on residency candidates in the 2020 to 2021 application cycle.

METHODS

An anonymous survey was distributed via Otomatch, Headmirror, and word of mouth to otolaryngology residency applicants in the 2021 Match. Survey items included demographics, social media usage, and impact of programs' social media on applicant perception and ranking. Descriptive statistics were performed, and responses based on demographic variables were compared using Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney U tests.

RESULTS

Of 64 included respondents, nearly all (61/64, 95%) used Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter for personal and/or professional purposes. Applicants (59/64, 92%) most commonly researched otolaryngology residency programs on Instagram (55/59, 93%) and Twitter (36/59, 61%), with younger (P = .023) and female (P = .043) applicants being more likely to engage with programs on Instagram. Program accounts were most helpful in showcasing program culture (50/59, 85%) and highlighting its location (34/59, 58%). Nearly one third (19/59, 32%) reported that social media impacted their rank list. Age, gender, reapplication, home program status, or time taken off before and/or during medical school did not significantly influence social media's usefulness in the application cycle.

CONCLUSION

Social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter are frequently used by applicants to assess otolaryngology residency programs. Programs' social media accounts effectively demonstrate program culture and affect applicants' rank lists. As social media usage continues to rise in the medical community, these findings can help otolaryngology residency programs craft a beneficial online presence that aids in recruitment, networking, and education.

Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program Social Media Presence During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In light of away rotation and in-person interview cancellations for the 2020 to 2021 application cycle, social media has become a popular tool for orthopaedic surgery residency programs to highlight their strengths, curricula, and social life to prospective applicants. The authors sought to explore the proliferation and utilization of 3 popular social media platforms by both orthopaedic surgery departments and residencies.

METHODS

Orthopaedic surgery departmental and residency program social media accounts and their creation dates across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram were identified using a standardized search methodology. Residency Instagram accounts were further evaluated for the number of posts, followers, likes, and comments. Both departments and residency programs were cohorted by affiliation with a US News &World Report (USNWR) top 50 American hospital for orthopaedics or by status as a Doximity top 20 program based on reputation.

RESULTS

Across a total of 192 residency programs included for analysis, Instagram was the most popular social media platform (61.5%), followed by Twitter (19.8%) and Facebook (10.4%). Conversely, orthopaedic departments more frequently used Facebook (33.9%) and Twitter (28.1%) over Instagram (17.2%). Of the 118 residency Instagram accounts, 102 (86.4%) were created after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Larger residency programs (≥6 spots/year) and those programs in the Doximity top 20 or affiliated with USNWR top 50 orthopaedic hospitals had a greater number of followers as well as likes and comments per post (p < 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

Given the recruitment challenges faced by residency programs because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Instagram has rapidly become a prominent platform for attracting orthopaedic surgery applicants. These accounts have a large number of followers, particularly for residency programs with higher Doximity reputation rankings.

Association Between Twitter Mentions and Academic Citations in Otolaryngology Literature

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relationship between Twitter mentions and academic citations in otolaryngology literature.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cross-sectional analysis.

SETTING

Altmetric Twitter mention and Google Scholar citation rosters.

METHODS

Original research articles from 10 leading otolaryngology journals were assessed 26 months after print publication. Article Twitter mentions were tracked through the Altmetric Bookmarklet, and article citation data were determined through the Google Scholar search engine. Twitter mentions and citation metrics of articles were compared through 2-tailed t test analysis (P < .05).

RESULTS

Of all articles, 50.7% (152/300) had at least 1 Twitter mention. Of all article Twitter mentions, 25% (432/1758) happened within the first week of online publication dates, while 64% (1130/1758) occurred between online and print publication dates. Articles mentioned on Twitter had 1.6-fold more Google Scholar citations (8.6 ± 0.7, mean ± SD) than articles with no Twitter mentions (5.4 ± 0.4, P < .01). A total of 8% (24/300) of publications were tweeted by their authors. Articles self-tweeted by authors were associated with an 8.4-citation increase (14.8 ± 3.1) for Google Scholar when compared with articles not shared by their authors on Twitter (6.4 ± 0.4; 2.3-fold increase, P < .01).

CONCLUSION

Most otolaryngology articles are disseminated over Twitter, with greatest Twitter activity occurring before print publication date of articles. Citations within 2 years of release are positively associated with the number of mentions on Twitter. Article Twitter mentions may augment the academic influence of otolaryngology publications.