Twitter-based journal club as a global medical education tool - Insights from the IPNA Journal Club (#IPNAJC)

Abstract

Free Open Access Medical Education (FOAMed) is successfully utilized by medical professionals worldwide to improve educational equity and networking opportunities. One such novel FOAMed tool is a Twitter-based journal club, #IPNAJC. The summary and infographics of selected pediatric nephrology article(s) are published on the IPNAJC website and emailed to members. Two separate, live, one-hour sessions are conducted in major international time zones in English and Spanish. Authors and experts are invited to the discussion. After #IPNAJC, a wrap-up is distributed across the IPNAJC membership via an email¸ for access on demand. An online, anonymous 11-question survey was distributed to IPNA members by email between Nov–Dec 2021. The response rate was 3.5 % (n=67). Most responses were from Asia (33%) and physicians (72%). Participants learned about #IPNAJC via email (69%), social media (17%), and colleagues (14%). Approximately 42% participated live; the remaining interacted with the materials asynchronously. The median (IQR) overall quality was 4 (3–5), the quality of summaries was 4 (4–5), VA usefulness was 5 (5), and ease of participation in the discussion was 5 (3–5). Analysis of Twitter chat revealed that 24 people participated in the live #IPNAJC, generating 424 tweets and 1.048 million impressions (median (IQR)). Most respondents perceived that the #IPNAJC and its FOAMed resources were of good quality. This survey study reinforces that FOAMed resources have a broad geographical reach, are accessed by users at all career stages, and can be utilized during and after a social media event.