Randomized controlled trial of plain English and visual abstracts for disseminating surgical research via social media

BACKGROUND

Patients are increasingly taking an active role in the design and delivery of surgical research. Public communication of results should also be encouraged, but this is often limited to non-expert commentary. This study assessed the role of plain English abstracts disseminated via social media in engaging patients and clinicians in the communication of surgical research.

METHODS

A three-arm randomized controlled trial with crossover of two intervention arms was performed. Manuscripts accepted for publication in BJS were allocated to one of three arms and disseminated via Twitter: plain English abstracts, visual abstracts and standard tweets. The primary outcome was online engagement (a composite of tweets, replies and likes) by members of the public within 14 days. The secondary outcome was online engagement by healthcare professionals.

RESULTS

Forty-one manuscripts were randomized to plain English abstracts (14), visual abstracts (14) and standard tweets (13). The number of public engagements was low, with a mean of 1·8 (range 0-8), 2·5 (0-11), and 1·2 (0-4) for plain English abstracts, visual abstracts and standard tweets respectively. The mean number of engagements by healthcare professionals was 29·4 (6-66), 45·3 (6-161) and 28·8 (10-52) respectively. Overall, visual abstracts attracted a significantly greater number of engagements than plain English ones (P < 0·001).

CONCLUSION

Online, public engagement with surgical research was low. Overall engagement (predominantly from healthcare professionals) was enhanced by the use of visual abstracts.

Orthodontics and dentistry for the hemophilic patient

In this presentation we have contrasted the normal blood-clotting mechanism with the failure to form blood clots in hemophiliacs due to the absence of protein factors necessary for conversion of prothrombin to thrombin. The statistics, hereditary basis, and long-term disabling consequences of hemophilia to the severely ffected patient are described. The systemic means of minimizing severe joint disabilities and serious internal bleeding hazards by employing concentrates of antihemophilic factors to reverse the bleeding defects are discussed. Availability and advantages of the types of concentrates are explained. The fatalistic attitude of hemophiliacs toward hepatitis is discussed, along with admonitions to avoid the use of aspirin, alcohol, and buttock injections. Alternative medications for pain are recommended; and injection sites for pediatric patients are suggested. The details of simplified oral surgical management of hemophilic patients without hospitalization are described, including local anesthetic injection technique, method of performing extractions, general anesthesia techniques when indicated, materials for packing of extraction sockets, regimen and precautions in use of Amicar administration for clot maintenance, postoperative diet, and postsurgical activity guidelines. Also noted is the self-administration of intravenous concentrate infusions at home in the event of hemorrhagin, so that bleeding is on the way to bein controlled even before the patient reaches the hospital. We avoided orthodontic treatment of hemophilic patients in the past; however, recently developed bracket-fixation techniques and auxiliary aids; along with an enlightened understanding that gingival bleeding is ot to be feared, have changed our attitude, and we now treat hemophilic patients in much the same manner as otherwise normal orthodontic patients...