The PM&R Journal Implements a Social Media Strategy to Disseminate Research and Track Alternative Metrics in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Abstract

Implementation science is an evolving part of translating evidence into clinical practice and public health policy. This report describes how a social media strategy for the journal PM&R using metrics, including alternative metrics, contributes to the dissemination of research and other information in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. The primary goal of the strategy was to disseminate information about rehabilitation medicine, including but not limited to new research published in the journal, to health care professionals. Several different types of metrics were studied, including alternative metrics that are increasingly being used to demonstrate impact in academic medicine. A secondary goal was to encourage diversity and inclusion of the physiatric workforce-enhancing the reputations of all physiatrists by highlighting their research, lectures, awards, and other accomplishments with attention to those who may be underrepresented. A third goal was to educate the public so that they are more aware of the field and how to access care. This report describes the early results following initiation of PM&R's coordinated social media strategy. Through a network of social media efforts that are strategically integrated, physiatrists and their associated institutions have an opportunity to advance their research and clinical agendas, support the diverse physiatric workforce, and educate the public about the field to enhance patient awareness and access to care.

Use of a Coordinated Social Media Strategy to Improve Dissemination of Research and Collect Solutions Related to Workforce Gender Equity

“…Research dissemination and the implementation of solutions are both notoriously slow, 28 and social media may provide new avenues to accelerate this process. 14,29 Indeed, the value of disseminating research through vast social media networks comprising physicians, scientists, policy makers, and others is increasingly being recognized. A recent report by Shillcutt and Silver in the New England Journal of Medicine focused on how women in medicine, in particular, are using virtual platforms to connect.…”

“…30 Niehaus et al also described how journals may work strategically with physicians and researchers in a loosely coordinated manner to enhance the dissemination of research through Twitter. 29 Bibliometrics, or the ''statistical analysis of.publications,'' 31 are often categorized as conventional or alternative. Conventional metrics such as journal impact factor, H-index, and citation counts have been widely adopted.…”

Highest‐Ranking Articles by Altmetric Attention Scores in Three Rehabilitation Journals

“…Recently, researchers in some specialties have investigated alternative metrics within their field and created “top 100” lists of the most disseminated articles . Because researchers in rehabilitation medicine are increasingly using social media to disseminate research, we used alternative metrics to characterize the most disseminated research articles in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R).…”

Social media for pediatric research: what, who, why, and #?

“…Some journals have designated specific editors to implement social media strategies. [15][16][17][18][19] One motivation may be to recruit high-quality content by demonstrating capacity for effective dissemination. 20 Additional motivations may be increased brand recognition and reaching a broader consumer base.…”

“…24 Social media as a tool for networking and collaborative research Professional networking is an often cited reason for adopting social media in academic medicine. 18,[25][26][27] The bidirectional flow of information between individuals and organizations with shared interests facilitates networking previously challenged by time, distance and a lack of mutual awareness. For example, the Collaboration for Outcomes on Social Media in Oncology (COSMO) "started working together after meeting online through Twitter, brought together by shared interests.…”