Globalization of continuing professional development by journal clubs via microblogging: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Journal clubs are an essential tool in promoting clinical evidence-based medical education to all medical and allied health professionals. Twitter represents a public, microblogging forum that can facilitate traditional journal club requirements, while also reaching a global audience, and participation for discussion with study authors and colleagues. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the current state of social media-facilitated journal clubs, specifically Twitter, as an example of continuing professional development. METHODS: A systematic review of literature databases (Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, ERIC via ProQuest) was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A systematic search of Twitter, the followers of identified journal clubs, and Symplur was also performed. Demographic and monthly tweet data were extracted from Twitter and Symplur. All manuscripts related to Twitter-based journal clubs were included. Statistical analyses were performed in MS Excel and STATA. RESULTS: From a total of 469 citations, 11 manuscripts were included and referred to five Twitter-based journal clubs (#ALiEMJC, #BlueJC, #ebnjc, #urojc, #meded). A Twitter-based journal club search yielded 34 potential hashtags/accounts, of which 24 were included in the final analysis. The median duration of activity was 11.75 (interquartile range [IQR] 19.9, SD 10.9) months, with 7 now inactive. The median number of followers and participants was 374 (IQR 574) and 157 (IQR 272), respectively. An overall increasing establishment of active Twitter-based journal clubs was observed, resulting in an exponential increase in total cumulative tweets (R(2)=.98), and tweets per month (R(2)=.72). Cumulative tweets for specific journal clubs increased linearly, with @ADC_JC, @EBNursingBMJ, @igsjc, @iurojc, and @NephJC, and showing greatest rate of change, as well as total impressions per month since establishment. An average of two tweets per month was estimated for the majority of participants, while the "Top 10" tweeters for @iurojc showed a significantly lower contribution to overall tweets for each month (P<.005). A linearly increasing impression:tweet ratio was observed for the top five journal clubs. CONCLUSIONS: Twitter-based journal clubs are free, time-efficient, and publicly accessible means to facilitate international discussions regarding clinically important evidence-based research.

[School blogs about sexuality: an exploratory documentary study]. / Blogs escolares sobre sexualidade: estudo exploratório documental.

The objective was to analyze the structure of school blogs on sexuality and their utilization by adolescents. This quantitative, exploratory and documentary study was performed with 11 blogs designed by students and available online in March of 2012. The information was submitted to hypertext analysis and descriptive statistics, taking research ethics norms into consideration. Group and education blogs developed in Portuguese and Brazilian schools were most often signed by their authors and suffered few updates. The written posts mixed scientific and informal languages, besides presenting videos and images. Every blog included information regarding the number of followers, visits, comments and a contact to answer questions. The highlighted discussed topics were birth control methods and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Blogs are a resource for health education that should promote active discussions and rely on the participation of health care professionals.

Blogs escolares sobre sexualidade: estudo exploratório documental / Blogs de escuela sobre sexualidad: estudio teórico exploratorio / School blogs about sexuality: an exploratory documentary study

O objetivo foi analisar a estrutura e a utilização do blog escolar por adolescentes, ao abordarem a temática da sexualidade. Trata-se de pesquisa quantitativa exploratória documental, realizada com 11 blogs criados por estudantes que estavam disponíveis online em março de 2012. As informações foram submetidas à análise hipertextual e da estatística descritiva, observando-se os preceitos éticos em pesquisa. Os blogs grupais e educacionais desenvolvidos em escolas portuguesas e brasileiras eram na maioria assinados pelos autores e sofreram poucas atualizações. As publicações escritas mesclaram linguagem científica com informal, apresentavam vídeos e imagens. Informações sobre a quantidade de seguidores, acessos, comentários e contato para dúvidas não foram encontrados na totalidade dos blogs. Entre os assuntos discutidos, destacaram-se métodos contraceptivos e doenças sexualmente transmissíveis (DSTs). Os blogs sãorecurso de educação em saúde que necessitam assumir o seu espaço de discussão ativa e podem contar com a participação de profissionais da saúde.

El objetivo fue analizar la estructura y el uso del blog de la escuela para los adolescentes, abordando el tema sexualidad. Se trata de investigación exploratoria cuantitativa realizada con 11 blogs creados por estudiantes que estaban disponibles en línea el marzo de 2012. La información sufrió análisis de la estadística descriptiva, con observación de la ética en investigación. Los blogs y el grupo educativo desarrollado en Brasil y escuelas portuguesas fueron firmados en su mayoría por los autores y sufrió menos cambios. Las publicaciones escritas se mezclan con el lenguaje científico informal, tenían videos y fotos. La información sobre la cantidad de seguidores, visitas, comentarios y contacto para cuestiones que no se encuentran en todos los blogs. Entre los temas tratados, se puso de anticoncepción y las enfermedades de transmisión sexual. Los blogs son la educación característica de salud que necesitan para tomar su espacio y el debate activo puede incluir la participación de profesionales de la salud.

The objective was to analyze the structure of school blogs on sexuality and their utilization by adolescents. This quantitative, exploratory and documentary study was performed with 11 blogs designed by students and available online in March of 2012. The information was submitted to hypertext analysis and descriptive statistics, taking research ethics norms into consideration. Group and education blogs developed in Portuguese and Brazilian schools were most often signed by their authors and suffered few updates. The written posts mixed scientific and informal languages, besides presenting videos and images. Every blog included information regarding the number of followers, visits, comments and a contact to answer questions. The highlighted discussed topics were birth control methods and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Blogs are a resource for health education that should promote active discussions and rely on the participation of health care professionals.

Digital communication to support clinical supervision: considering the human factors.

During the last three years the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Tasmania has used a needs assessment survey to explore the needs of organizations and nursing professionals that facilitate and clinically supervise Bachelor of Nursing students in the workplace. Findings from the survey indicated that staff at healthcare organizations wanted a communication strategy that was easily accessible by clinicians who supervised students during work integrated learning placements. In particular they wanted to receive timely information related to the role and function of supervisors in practice. The development of the digital strategy to strengthen the development of a community of practice between the University, organizations, facilities and clinical supervisors was identified as the key method of improving communication. Blogging and micro blogging were selected as methods of choice for the implementation of the digital strategy because they were easy to set up, use and enable equity of access to geographically dispersed practitioners in urban and rural areas. Change champions were identified to disseminate information about the strategy within their workplaces. Although clinicians indicated electronic communication as their preferred method, there were a number of human factors at a systems and individual level identified to be challenges when communicating with clinical supervisors who were based off-campus. Information communication technology policies and embedded culture towards social presence were impediments to using this approach in some organizations. Additionally, it was found that it is necessary for this group of clinicians to be educated about using digital methods to undertake their role as clinical supervisors in their varied clinical practice environments.

Social media in vascular surgery.

There has been a tremendous growth in the use of social media to expand the visibility of various specialties in medicine. The purpose of this paper is to describe the latest updates on some current applications of social media in the practice of vascular surgery as well as existing limitations of use. This investigation demonstrates that the use of social networking sites appears to have a positive impact on vascular practice, as is evident through the incorporation of this technology at the Cleveland Clinic and by the Society for Vascular Surgery into their approach to patient care and physician communication. Overall, integration of social networking technology has current and future potential to be used to promote goals, patient awareness, recruitment for clinical trials, and professionalism within the specialty of vascular surgery.

Increasing communication in the intensive care unit: is blogging the answer?

Effective communication is a key factor to success in intensive care nursing. At Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) incorporated blogging as one of its primary means of communication. In the health care clinical environment, blogging can help to promote 2-way communication among nursing staff and leadership. Blogging can serve as a valuable method of relaying important updates, changes in practice, and educational resources. Incorporating a blog into the ICU environment involves a cultural shift and some potential barriers. Lack of a technological understanding of social media, outdated software systems, and limited hospital policies may pose issues when incorporating a blog into the health care setting. The benefits though are impressive. Blogging is a form of rapid, real-time communication for which any person may post or comment on an important thought or message. Blogging can help to increase compliance with quality measures, update staff on need to know information such as changes in policies and procedures, and provide up-to-date educational resources at any time, from anywhere.

Social media-sprint out of the gates!

Not having a Twitter account or a Facebook fan page for your employer, or for yourself, is no longer an option if you plan to participate in social media. I preface this article with the statement that many things could possibly change on Twitter and Facebook in 1 month's time from writing this article and it's publishing. We will focus on Twitter and Facebook because they can have the greatest impact with the least amount of effort, and they are the most popular. By creating an account for each and connecting them together, you ensure a "sprint" out of the social media gate versus a slow jog; so let's get started!

Plastic surgery marketing in a generation of "tweeting".

BACKGROUND: "Social media" describes interactive communication through Web-based technologies. It has become an everyday part of modern life, yet there is a lack of research regarding its impact on plastic surgery practice. OBJECTIVES: The authors evaluate and compare the prevalence of classic marketing methods and social media in plastic surgery. METHODS: The Web sites of aesthetic surgeons from seven US cities were compared and evaluated for the existence of Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace links and promotions. To find the sites, the authors conducted a Google search for the phrase "plastic surgery" with the name of each city to be studied: Beverly Hills, California; Dallas, Texas; Houston, Texas; Las Vegas, Nevada; Miami, Florida; New York City, New York; and San Francisco, California. The trends of social networking memberships were also studied in each of these cities. RESULTS: In comparison to aesthetic surgeons practicing in other cities, those in Miami, Florida, favored social media the most, with 50% promoting a Facebook page and 46% promoting Twitter. Fifty-six percent of New York City aesthetic surgeons promoted their featured articles in magazines and newspapers, whereas 54% of Beverly Hills aesthetic surgeons promoted their television appearances. An increase in the number of new Facebook memberships among cosmetic providers in the seven cities began in October 2008 and reached a peak in October, November, and December 2009, with subsequent stabilization. The increase in the number of new Twitter memberships began in July 2008 and remained at a steady rate of approximately 15 new memberships every three months. CONCLUSIONS: Social media may seem like a new and unique communication tool, but it is important to preserve professionalism and apply traditional Web site-building ethics and principles to these sites. We can expect continued growth in plastic surgeons' utilization of these networks to enhance their practices and possibly to launch direct marketing campaigns.

The use of conversation analysis to study social accessibility of an online support group on eating disorders.

We conducted a conversation analysis of 21 threads initiated by newcomers of an online support group (OSG) on eating disorders, to examine the discursive process of entering such a group. The analysis revealed three important issues. First, many newcomers articulate that the step to join the group is extremely difficult. Second, a presentation of the self in terms of a diagnosis works as a legitimization for joining the forum. The data suggest that participants who do not fulfil the conditions for such a legitimization do not join the forum. Third, the option of acquiring a serious symptom as a solution to the legitimization problem is offered by one of the regular members. Hence, the newcomers' discourse reveals issues relevant to the accessibility for undiagnosed sufferers. We discuss these findings theoretically as a phenomenon of self-presentation in relation to community norms. The analysis generates the hypothesis that newcomers are confronted with implicit norms regarding membership legitimacy that they should obey in their self-presentation, although they may not be ready yet to actually do so. OSGs should find strategies to facilitate various possibilities for newcomers to present themselves to the group while becoming a member.

Diagnosis blog: checking up on health blogs in the blogosphere.

OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the content and characteristics of influential health blogs and bloggers to provide a more thorough understanding of the health blogosphere than was previously available. METHODS: We identified, through a purposive-snowball approach, 951 health blogs in 2007 and 2008. All blogs were US focused and updated regularly. We described their features, topics, perspectives, and blogger demographics. RESULTS: Approximately half of the bloggers in our sample were employed in the health field. A majority were female, aged in their 30s, and highly educated. Two thirds posted at least weekly; one quarter accepted advertisements. Most blogs were established after 2004. They typically focused on bloggers' experiences with 1 disease or condition or on the personal experiences of health professionals. Half were written from a professional perspective, one third from a patient-consumer perspective, and a few from the perspective of an unpaid caregiver. CONCLUSIONS: Data collected from health blogs could be aggregated for large-scale empirical investigations. Future research should assess the quality of the information posted and identify what blog features and elements best reflect adherence to prevailing norms of conduct.

Disseminating best practice through a Web log.

This article, the final in a five-part series, explains the term web log or blog and explores key considerations regarding their use to disseminate best practice in nursing. The article identifies key points for commencing a blog and provides links to other sources of planning guidance. The ways in which blogs can be used to convey best practice are discussed.

Promoting clinical competence using social media.

A critical task for nursing students is learning to synthesize knowledge and disseminate it to their patients in an understandable format, often in the form of posters or pamphlets for a lay audience. With the Internet becoming the place of choice for information for the lay audience and the use of social media almost universal among undergraduate nursing students, the authors discuss a knowledge synthesis activity that allows students to use familiar tools to create a 3- to 5-minute video in lay terms and the use of YouTube to display the videos.