Current Status of Instagram Utilization by Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Programs: A Comparison With Related Dental and Surgical Specialties.

PURPOSE: The utility of social media in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) residency programs has never been investigated, despite the increasing popularity of such platforms in academic medicine. As a specialty that strives for constant innovation, it is important for OMS programs to participate in the emerging concept of incorporating social media into medical and surgical education. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the use of Instagram in OMS residency programs in the United States. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of Instagram search data was performed. The Instagram accounts of OMS residency programs were searched, and their metrics were retrieved from June 1 to June 5, 2020. Factors correlated with the total number of followers were identified. The use of Instagram in OMS residency programs was compared with that in other related dental and surgical residency programs. RESULTS: Only 17 (18.7%) of 91 OMS residency programs had an Instagram account. The number of programs with Instagram accounts exhibited linear growth (R2 = 0.98) since December 2018. The median number of followers was 326 (range, 94 to 2,152), and the median number of posts was 9 (range, 2 to 40). The number of Instagram followers was positively correlated with the number of accounts followed, the number of total posts, and the number of educational posts, and it was negatively correlated with the Instagram engagement rate. Instagram presence did not differ among residency programs for orthodontics (18.2%), periodontics (5.5%), and OMS (P = .067). However, Instagram presence in OMS residency programs was significantly lower than that in plastic surgery (74.7%; P < .001) and otolaryngology residency programs (35.0%; P = .011). CONCLUSIONS: Instagram use in OMS residency programs is growing but is significantly lower than that in related surgical fields. This may represent a missed opportunity for promoting collaboration and efficiently delivering useful information to trainees.

Attitudes toward Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination and Head and Neck Cancer Prevention in a Diverse, Urban Population.

OBJECTIVE: (1) To understand if awareness of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination's potential to prevent head and neck cancer improves acceptability of the vaccine in a large urban population and (2) to identify characteristics of those in whom such discussions would have the greatest impact. STUDY DESIGN: In-person, anonymous survey. SETTING: Academic public hospital between March 2014 and June 2014. SUBJECTS: Patients aged 12 to 24 years and their parents or guardians awaiting scheduled outpatient pediatric appointments. METHODS: Demographics and modified Carolina HPV Immunization Attitudes and Beliefs Scales data were cross-analyzed, followed by univariate binomial logistic regression to identify predictors for major outcomes of interest. RESULTS: More than 78% of those surveyed indicated they would be more receptive to the HPV vaccine if given strong evidence that it prevented head and neck cancer. Respondents were more likely to increase receptivity to HPV vaccination if they held the belief that they did not have enough information about the vaccine or indicated they preferred to wait because the vaccine was too new. CONCLUSION: Increasing public awareness of head and neck cancer prevention with HPV vaccination could increase HPV vaccination acceptance.