Social Media Use for Professional Purposes in the Neurosurgical Community: A Multi-Institutional Study

Social media insights for neurosurgical oncologists: a survey of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons Joint Section on Tumors

PURPOSE

There is a paucity in the literature regarding the characteristics and attitudes of social media (SM) utilization in a professional manner by neurosurgical oncologists.

METHODS

A 34-question electronic survey was created using Google Forms and disseminated via email to members of the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Tumors. Demographic data were compared amongst those who utilize social media versus those who do not. Factors associated with positive effects of professional SM use and with having more followers on SM were analyzed.

RESULTS

The survey received 94 responses, of which 64.9% reported that they currently use SM in a professional manner. Age < 50 years was found to be associated with SM use (p = 0.038). Facebook (54.1%), Twitter (60.7%), Instagram (41%), and LinkedIn (60.7%) were the most used SM platforms. Having a higher number of followers was associated with practicing in academics (p = 0.005), using Twitter (p = 0.013), posting about their own research publications (p = 0.018), posting interesting cases (p = 0.022), and posting about upcoming events (p = 0.001). Having a higher number of followers on SM was also associated with positive effects, specifically new patient referrals (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Neurosurgical oncologists can benefit by using social media professionally for increased patient engagement and networking within the medical community. Practicing in academics, making use of Twitter, and posting about interesting cases, upcoming academic events, and one's own research publications can help gain followers. In addition, having a large following on social media could lead to positive effects such as new patient referrals.

The Role of Social Media on the Research Productivity of Neurosurgeons During the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic committees of all countries restricted face-to-face interactions. This study aimed to determine how the pandemic changed the research output for many neurosurgeons while highlighting how social media may have been used as a contactless platform to maintain research productivity during these times.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, descriptive, 24-item, and non-randomized online survey was applied worldwide, and shared using social media platforms and emails. The questions mainly focused on comparing the results of the pre-pandemic period to the pandemic period (after March 2020).

RESULTS

A total of 202 respondents from 60 different countries responded to the survey. Interest in neurosurgical education increased from 24% to 76%, while the topic of epidemiology gained interest from 28% to 72% when the pre-pandemic era was compared to the pandemic era. Preference for prospective studies decreased from 66% to 34%, while interest in retrospective studies increased from 39% to 61%. In evaluating publication types, the preference for reviews increased from 36% to 64%. Sixty-two percent of the respondents stated they had concerns over delays in individual contributions/lack of accountability. These concerns were followed by problems with theft of intellectual property/data and authorship disputes. Forty-one percent believed that the support of extra hands on a load-heavy project was the most powerful benefit of social media collaboration. Those who reported increased publications during the pandemic were also more likely to collaborate using social media (P = 0.030).

CONCLUSIONS

During the pandemic, social media collaborations helped increase research output for neurosurgeons.

Correlation between social media utilization by academic neurosurgery departments and higher online patient ratings

OBJECTIVE

Patients increasingly utilize online physician review websites (PRWs) and social media to inform healthcare-related decisions. This provides neurosurgeons with opportunities for increased patient engagement. And despite the growing use of social media among neurosurgeons, the relationship between social media utilization and online reviews remains unknown. The goal of this study was to characterize the relationship between social media utilization and PRW ratings across academic neurosurgery departments.

METHODS

Social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram) of academic neurosurgery departments were identified. Online reviews for individual faculty were obtained from Healthgrades, Vitals, WebMD, and Google. Reviews were aggregated to identify the total number of reviews per department, to generate a composite departmental rating, and to calculate a summed departmental score. US News & World Report (USNWR) and Doximity rankings were recorded for each department. Social media utilization by individual neurosurgeons and associated ratings were investigated within the departments with the highest social media utilization.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight percent of academic neurosurgery departments utilized social media. The most prevalent platform was YouTube (49.1%), followed by Twitter (46.5%), Facebook (38.6%), and Instagram (16.7%). Higher patient ratings on PRWs were associated with the utilization of YouTube (p = 0.048) or Twitter (p = 0.02). The number of social media platforms utilized demonstrated a significant, positive correlation with patient ratings (p = 0.006) and summed patient ratings (p = 0.048). Although USNWR (p = 0.02) and Doximity (p = 0.0008) rankings correlated with patient ratings, only the number of social media platforms utilized remained a significant predictor of patient ratings on multivariate analysis (p = 0.0001). Thirty-one percent of academic neurosurgeons from departments with high social media utilization were active on social media. The most prevalent social media platform among individual neurosurgeons was Twitter (27.4%), followed by Instagram (8.4%), Facebook (4.9%), and YouTube (2.2%). Higher summed patient scores were associated with individual neurosurgeon utilization of YouTube (p = 0.04), Facebook (p < 0.0001), and Instagram (p = 0.01). Increased social media utilization among neurosurgeons was correlated with a greater number of patient reviews (p = 0.006) and higher summed patient scores (p = 0.003). On multivariate analysis, only Facebook use remained a significant predictor of the number of patient reviews received (p = 0.002) and summed patient satisfaction scores (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

An increased social media presence is associated with higher ratings on PRWs. As neurosurgeons continue to expand their online presence, they should be aware of the possible impact of social media on online patient reviews.

Fostering educator identity through social media

BACKGROUND

Communities of practice (CoPs) are integral to professional identify formation (PIF) of educators. However, it can be challenging to identify and engage with such communities. Social media (SoMe) can facilitate formation of virtual CoPs, support PIF and increase visibility and recognition among peers. Yet, privacy concerns, lack of skills, time constraints and value doubts are reported barriers. The purpose of this study was to explore perceived benefits, challenges and suggested strategies to promote SoMe engagement from a group of health professions educators (HPEs).

METHODS

Using qualitative methodology, we explored opinions of educators participating in Harvard Macy Institute courses regarding professional SoMe use through focus group discussions. Discussions were audiotaped and transcribed, and thematic analysis was performed. Brief questionnaires were distributed to collect frequency of and confidence in SoMe use; these data were analysed descriptively. The Partners Healthcare Institutional Review Board approved the study.

RESULTS

Forty-eight educators participated in six focus groups. About 93.8% had at least one professional SoMe account, although engagement frequency varied. Qualitative analysis revealed three themes: (1) challenges to engagement, including juggling commitments and feeling overwhelmed; (2) benefits to joining a community, including staying informed and sharing scholarship; and (3) strategies to encourage inclusion, including tailored training and institutional champions.

CONCLUSION

Though challenges to engagement were reported, participants noted multiple benefits. SoMe engagement can foster virtual CoPs among HPEs and potentially contribute to PIF. Subsequently, we offer five recommendations for efficient and impactful social media engagement for healthcare professionals.

Association Between Public Opinion and Malaysian Government Communication Strategies About the COVID-19 Crisis: Content Analysis of Image Repair Strategies in Social Media

Background

The COVID-19 health crisis has posed an unprecedented challenge for governments worldwide to manage and communicate about the pandemic effectively, while maintaining public trust. Good leadership image in times of a health emergency is paramount to ensure public confidence in governments’ abilities to manage the crisis.

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify types of image repair strategies utilized by the Malaysian government in their communication about COVID-19 in the media and analyze public responses to these messages on social media.

Methods

Content analysis was employed to analyze 120 media statements and 382 comments retrieved from Facebook pages of 2 mainstream newspapers—Berita Harian and The Star. These media statements and comments were collected within a span of 6 weeks prior to and during the first implementation of Movement Control Order by the Malaysian Government. The media statements were analyzed according to Image Repair Theory to categorize strategies employed in government communications related to COVID-19 crisis. Public opinion responses were measured using modified lexicon-based sentiment analysis to categorize positive, negative, and neutral statements.

Results

The Malaysian government employed all 5 Image Repair Theory strategies in their communications in both newspapers. The strategy most utilized was reducing offensiveness (75/120, 62.5%), followed by corrective action (30/120, 25.0%), evading responsibilities (10/120, 8.3%), denial (4/120, 3.3%), and mortification (1/120, 0.8%). This study also found multiple substrategies in government media statements including denial, shifting blame, provocation, defeasibility, accident, good intention, bolstering, minimization, differentiation, transcendence, attacking accuser, resolve problem, prevent recurrence, admit wrongdoing, and apologize. This study also found that 64.7% of public opinion was positive in response to media statements made by the Malaysian government and also revealed a significant positive association (P=.04) between image repair strategies utilized by the Malaysian government and public opinion.

Conclusions

Communication in the media may assist the government in fostering positive support from the public. Suitable image repair strategies could garner positive public responses and help build trust in times of crisis.

Preserving professional identities, behaviors, and values in digital professionalism using social networking sites; a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Despite a rapid rise of use of social media in medical disciplines, uncertainty prevails among healthcare professionals for providing medical content on social media. There are also growing concerns about unprofessional behaviors and blurring of professional identities that are undermining digital professionalism. This review tapped the literature to determine the impact of social media on medical professionalism and how can professional identities and values be maintained in digital era.

METHODS

We searched the databases of PubMed, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and EBSCO host using (professionalism AND (professionalism OR (professional identity) OR (professional behaviors) OR (professional values) OR (professional ethics))) AND ((social media) AND ((social media) OR (social networking sites) OR Twitter OR Facebook)) AND (health professionals). The research questions were based on sample (health professionals), phenomenon of interest (digital professionalism), design, evaluation and research type. We screened initial yield of titles using pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria and selected a group of articles for qualitative analysis. We used the Biblioshiny® software package for the generation of popular concepts as clustered keywords.

RESULTS

Our search yielded 44 articles with four leading themes; marked rise in the use of social media by healthcare professionals and students, negative impact of social media on digital professionalism, blurring of medical professional values, behaviors, and identity in the digital era, and limited evidence for teaching and assessing digital professionalism. A high occurrence of violation of patient privacy, professional integrity and cyberbullying were identified. Our search revealed a paucity of existing guidelines and policies for digital professionalism that can safeguard healthcare professionals, students and patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our systematic review reports a significant rise of unprofessional behaviors in social media among healthcare professionals. We could not identify the desired professional behaviors and values essential for digital identity formation. The boundaries between personal and professional practices are mystified in digital professionalism. These findings call for potential educational ramifications to resurrect professional virtues, behaviors and identities of healthcare professionals and students.

Largest neurosurgical social media group and its impact on communication and research

BACKGROUND

The use of social media to communicate and disseminate knowledge has increased exponentially, especially in the field of neurosurgery. 'Neurosurgery cocktail' (NC) was developed by a group of young neurosurgeons as a means of sharing didactic materials and clinical experiences via social media. It connects 35.000 neurosurgeons worldwide on multiple platforms, primarily Facebook and Twitter. Given the rising utilization of social media in neurosurgery, the popularity of NC has also increased since its inception. In this study, the authors surveyed the social media analytics of NC for both Facebook and Twitter. Besides, we reviewed the literature on the use of social media in neurosurgery.

METHODS

Facebook and Twitter metrics were extracted through each respective platform's analytics tools from December 2020 (earliest available date for data analysis) through January 2021. A literature search was conducted using PubMed (MEDLINE) and Scopus databases.

RESULTS

On Facebook, as of January 2021, the group had a total of 25.590 members (87.6% male), most commonly (29%) between 35 and 44 years of age with over 100 countries were represented. As of January 2021, they had amassed 6457 followers on Twitter. During the last 28 d between December 2020 and January 2021, the account published 65 tweets that garnered a total of 196,900 impressions. Twelve articles were identified in our literature review on the use of social media within the neurosurgical community.

CONCLUSIONS

NC is one of the most widely utilized neurosurgical social media resources available. Sharing knowledge has been broadened thanks to the recent social media evolution, and NC has become a leading player in disseminating neurosurgical knowledge.

#Neurosurgery: A Temporal and Content Analysis of Academic Neurosurgery on Twitter

BACKGROUND

Social media has become ubiquitous in modern medicine. Academic neurosurgery has increased adoption to promote individual and departmental accomplishments, engage with patients, and foster collaboration. We sought to quantitatively evaluate the adoption of one of the most used social media platforms, Twitter, within academic neurosurgery.

METHODS

A quantitative and qualitative analysis of Twitter use across 118 academic neurosurgery departments with residency programs in the United States was performed in March 2019 and March 2021. We collated Twitter handles, Doximity residency ranking (a peer-determined ranking system), geographic location, and Twitter demographics (tweets, followers, likes, and tweet content) from before and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Tweet content was characterized by reviewers over a predetermined 6-month period. Linear regression and parametric/nonparametric tests were used for analysis.

RESULTS

Departmental accounts grew 3.7 accounts per year between 2009 and 2019 (R² = 0.96), but 43 accounts (130%) were added between 2019 (n = 33) and 2021 (n = 76). This growth, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, changed the model from linear to exponential growth (R² = 0.97). The highest-ranking programs based on Doximity were significantly more likely to have an account (P < 0.001) and have more followers (P < 0.0001). Tweet content analysis revealed prioritization of faculty/resident activity (mean 49.9%) throughout the quartiles.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrate rapid uptake in Twitter use among U.S. academic neurosurgical departments, accelerated by COVID-19. With the impact of COVID-19, it is clear that there will be continued rapid adoption of this platform within neurosurgery, and future studies should explore the outcomes of peer collaboration, patient engagement, and dissemination of medical information.

Social Media in Neurosurgery: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

Social media has been used increasingly in neurosurgery by individuals. We aimed to identify demographics and preferences of social media use, describe the scope of social media use, and characterize its utility.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases. Titles and abstracts from articles identified in the search were read and selected for full-text review. Studies meeting prespecified inclusion criteria were reviewed in full and analyzed for relevant data.

RESULTS

Of 431 resultant articles, 29 were included. Patients and caregivers most commonly used Facebook and Twitter, whereas nearly 50% of neurosurgeons used LinkedIn and Doximity. Patient and caregiver users of social media tended to be <35 years old. Content of posts varied from requesting/providing information (∼40%) to seeking emotional support/forming connections (∼30%). A total of 20.6% of videos were irrelevant to clinical neurosurgery. Factual accuracy of most videos was poor to inadequate. Social media use was associated with greater academic impact for neurosurgical departments and journals. Posts with photos and videos and weekend posts generated 1.2-2 times greater engagement.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients and caregivers who use social media are typically younger than 35 years old and commonly use Facebook or Twitter. Neurosurgeons prefer Doximity and LinkedIn. Social media yields information regarding common symptoms and uncovers novel symptoms. Videos are poor-to-inadequate quality and often irrelevant to clinical neurosurgery. Optimizing social media use will augment the exchange of ideas regarding clinical practice and research and empower patients and caregivers.

Attitudes of Neurosurgeons Toward Social Media: A Multi-Institutional Study

BACKGROUND

Social media has become an important communication tool in modern life, and its use is undoubtedly increasing worldwide. Given the rising importance of social media in the health care system, little is known about neurosurgeons' social media use and interactions in the context of professional purposes. This study aimed to analyze social media usage and opinions among neurosurgeons in terms of age, gender, and practice setting.

METHODS

An online survey was administered to neurosurgeons worldwide. A total of 1119 neurosurgeons from 104 different countries responded to the questionnaire.

RESULTS

All respondents were members of at least 1 social media platform. Older neurosurgeons and neurosurgeons in nonacademic settings spent less time on social media (P < 0.05). Communication with peers via social media decreased with age, while communication via e-mail increased (P < 0.05). Most respondents perceived the effect of social media to be beneficial to neurosurgery (very beneficial [28.73%], somewhat beneficial [35.55%]). More women than men considered that social media platforms provided a greater chance for networking opportunities, learning about a new study or conference, and providing rapid and widespread knowledge transfer (P < 0.05). False guidance (44.68%) and violation of privacy (41.64%) were thought to be the main disadvantages.

CONCLUSIONS

Social media use, opinions, and attitudes among neurosurgeons vary depending on their age, gender, and practice setting. Most neurosurgeons stated that the use of social media could have beneficial and advantageous effects on neurosurgery practice, while the frequency of misleading information and lack of privacy were perceived as barriers.

Motivations, barriers, and social media: a qualitative study of uptake of women into neurosurgery

OBJECTIVE

To explore how social media could be utilised to influence an individual's motivation to pursue a neurosurgical career, an emerging topic area. The focus of this study was on women interested in neurosurgery.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Women are significantly under-represented in neurosurgery. 18% of all neurosurgeons - including 8% of consultants - are women. Most previous studies have used quantitative methods that are not best suited to gaining an in-depth understanding of the barriers that women face in pursuing a career in neurosurgery, or what would enable more women to go into the speciality.

METHODS

In this qualitative study, individual semi-structured interviews were conducted until data saturation was achieved. Participants were women pre-neurosurgical trainees. The interview data was examined through a thematic analysis involving open and axial coding.

RESULTS

Thirty women participated in the study. Four overarching themes were identified: (1) mentorship, (2) testimony from other women doing neurosurgery, (3) social media as a means of increasing interest in neurosurgery as a career choice, and (4) real-life exposure to the speciality.

CONCLUSION

There is scope to further improve uptake of women into neurosurgical training in the UK. Motivations and barriers to women pursuing neurosurgery should be addressed openly through early experience, role models and mentorship. Social media can help facilitate these opportunities, disseminate information and inspiration, and has the potential to undo societal biases.