The current use of Twitter in orthopaedic surgery departments: A cross-sectional analysis

Abstract

Background: The extent to which individual clinical departments use Twitter™ is largely unknown. Further, impact of use has not been extensively studied. The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze Twitter™ utilization by orthopaedic surgery departments and to gauge the implications Twitter™ use has on the status of the department. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of Twitter utilization for all Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited orthopaedic surgery training programs. Tweets between May 1 and December 1, 2018 were categorized and Tweet impact was assessed using public interaction. Program rankings, as measured by Doximity and US News and World Report (USNWR), were correlated with various Twitter variables. Correlations were calculated with Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: Of the 153 ACGME-accredited orthopaedic surgery departments, 24 (15.7%) had Twitter accounts. The departments averaged 1079.35±713.47 followers and a mean of 16.16±13.83 tweets per month. Most tweets were internally generated “unique” tweets. Unique tweets had a mean of 4.50±0.04 likes and 1.10±0.12 retweets per tweet. Twitter account profile data and tweet content demonstrated equal numbers of tweets categorized as “educational” and “other”. Both Doximity and USNWR had more favorable ranks with increasing variables of all Twitter categories, and there was a statistically significant correlation between greater number of post “likes” and a higher USNWR score. Conclusions: Twitter is underutilized by orthopaedic surgery departments and has a small correlation with the reputation of the department. Level of Evidence: Level IV.

The impact of COVID-19 on the social media practices of orthopaedic surgery residency programs

“…Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, orthopaedic residency programs were slow to embrace social media. Zitsch et al 5 reviewed 153 orthopaedic residency programs in 2018 and discovered that only 15.7% of the programs had an active Twitter account. This study indicates that there was a peri-pandemic increase in the social media presence of orthopaedic residency programs in the United States.…”

“…Residency social media utilization has been a topic of interest across a variety of medical specialties. Previous studies have documented the prevalence of residency accounts in otolaryngology, obstetrics and gynecology, neurology, dermatology, general surgery, and orthopaedic surgery among others 5,9,11,13–16. The majority of published research on this subject was performed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and many of the referenced studies concluded that social media was an under-utilized resource among residency programs.…”

“…Previous studies have documented the prevalence of residency accounts in otolaryngology, obstetrics and gynecology, neurology, dermatology, general surgery, and orthopaedic surgery among others. 5,9,11,[13][14][15][16] The majority of published research on this subject was performed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and many of the referenced studies concluded that social media was an under-utilized resource among residency programs. However, it appears the pandemicassociated increase in residency social media activity seen in this study is not exclusive to orthopaedic residency programs.…”

“…Yet, orthopaedic residency programs have been slower to adapt to the rise in social media. As recently as 2018, only 15.7% of ACGME accredited orthopedic surgery departments had a Twitter account 5…”

“…As recently as 2018, only 15.7% of ACGME accredited orthopedic surgery departments had a Twitter account. 5 Social media is a robust tool that allows residency programs to communicate with the next generation of applicants. The current cohort of residency applicants is accustomed to utilizing the internet to perform research.…”