Fostering Healthcare Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration Through Twitter
Advantages and limitations of using Twitter as a tool to facilitate the exchange and collaboration of healthcare knowledge
Twitter, with its vast network of users, has become an indispensable tool for healthcare professionals seeking to share knowledge and collaborate with their peers. The platform allows healthcare professionals to connect with one another, stay up to date on the latest industry news, and engage in conversations about healthcare issues and trends.
In this article, we will explore some of the advantages of using Twitter as a medium for healthcare communication and knowledge exchange.
Keeping Up To Date With Research
For healthcare professionals, keeping up with the latest research and developments in their field is essential for providing the best possible care to their patients. However, the sheer volume of medical literature being published every day can be overwhelming, making it difficult for healthcare professionals to stay up-to-date on the latest research.
According to a study published in the journal PLOS ONE in 2013, the global output of academic articles was found to be doubling approximately every nine years between 1900 and 2012. However, the rate of growth has been faster in recent decades due to factors such as the growth of digital publishing and open access publishing, which have made it easier and more cost-effective to disseminate research findings.
Crossing the chasm
One of the key challenges faced in knowledge translation is the pace at which new knowledge is generated, which can create a gap between research findings and clinical practice.
The 2001 report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) titled “Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century” highlighted the gap between evidence-based practices and routine healthcare delivery in the United States. The report used the term “chasm” to describe the distance between what the healthcare system is capable of achieving and what it currently delivers.
One of the indictments in the report was the slow pace of translating research evidence into practice. The idea that it takes an average of 17 years for new research findings from randomized trials to be incorporated into routine clinical practice, as noted in the 2001 IOM report, has been widely cited and discussed over the years. However, the actual time lag for translating research evidence into practice can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including the complexity of the intervention, the quality and relevance of the evidence, and the availability of resources and infrastructure for implementing the intervention.
That being said, there is evidence to suggest that the pace of translation of research evidence into practice has improved somewhat in recent years, in part due to increased efforts to promote evidence-based practice and quality improvement initiatives. However, there is still room for improvement in terms of the speed and consistency with which new research findings are incorporated into clinical practice.
The pace of new knowledge generation has been one of the factors contributing to the gap between research evidence and routine clinical practice in healthcare. As mentioned earlier, the volume of academic articles published globally has been increasing rapidly, and it can be challenging for clinicians to keep up with the latest research findings and evidence-based practices.
Another reason for this gap, according to Brownsen et al (2028) is thought to be ineffective dissemination of research findings.
“The gap between discovery of public health knowledge and application in practice settings and policy development is due in part to ineffective dissemination.” [1]
Further, as noted by Bernhardt et al, passive methods of dissemination, such as the publication of consensus conferences in professional journals, are not very effective at producing change in practice [2]. One reason for this is that passive dissemination methods do not actively engage healthcare providers in the learning and implementation process.
To achieve meaningful change in clinical practice, more active and interactive dissemination strategies are often needed. These might include educational workshops, interactive online modules, collaborative learning networks, and quality improvement initiatives that involve feedback and ongoing support from peers and mentors.
Community-Driven Knowledge Exchange
Community-driven knowledge exchange refers to the process of creating and nurturing communities of practice in order to facilitate the exchange of knowledge among their members. This approach is based on the idea that knowledge is not something that can be simply transferred from one person to another, but rather is something that is co-created and shared within communities of practice.
Twitter is an ideal platform for creating and nurturing virtual communities of practice because it is easy to use, widely accessible, and allows for real-time communication and collaboration. Users can create and follow hashtags related to their area of interest, which allows them to connect with others who are interested in the same topics. They can also participate in Twitter chats, which are live, moderated discussions on specific topics.
Through Twitter, individuals can exchange knowledge, share resources, and collaborate on projects in ways that were not possible before. They can also create a sense of community and belonging, even if they are not physically located in the same place. This is particularly important in fields like healthcare, where practitioners may be geographically dispersed but need to collaborate and share knowledge in order to provide the best possible care to their patients.
Twitter can be an invaluable tool for healthcare professionals looking to stay up-to-date on the latest research and developments in their field. Healthcare professionals can use Twitter to ask their colleagues for recommendations on relevant articles or to get feedback on their own research. By following relevant journals, researchers, and organizations on Twitter, healthcare professionals can curate a customized feed of the most important and relevant articles, news, and information related to their field.
Crowdsourcing Scholarly Research
Crowdsourcing involves using the collective intelligence of a large group of people to complete a task or solve a problem. The platform allows researchers to test ideas, solicit feedback, and refine their work in real-time. By sharing their ideas on Twitter, researchers can quickly gauge the interest and validity of their work and receive instant feedback from a diverse range of colleagues and peers.
Researchers can use Twitter to share research findings, discuss emerging trends, and engage in debates and discussions with colleagues around the world. This ability to access diverse perspectives and expertise is one of the key benefits of crowdsourcing for scholarly work. Social media such as Facebook and LinkedIn tend to connect people who already have traditional social ties, but Twitter’s open premise allows for a much wider audience. As Twitter ‘’flattens’’ the audience, students, trainees and junior physicians have direct access to thought leaders; opportunities for knowledge transfer extend outside of physical institutions and organizations. By tapping into the knowledge of a large and varied group of people, researchers can collect a wide range of data and insights that would be difficult to gather through traditional research methods. This can lead to more robust and comprehensive research outcomes.
Crowdsourcing can also be an effective way to engage with stakeholders and communities outside of academia. Researchers can make their work relevant and accessible to a broader audience by involving members of the public. By doing so, researchers and communities can build trust and collaborate.
Beyond the writing process, Twitter is emerging as a valuable tool for core research functions, such as recruiting participants and mining data. Researchers can use Twitter to recruit participants for studies and to deliver health interventions. They can also use the platform to mine tweets for epidemiological data on emerging health issues, providing a real-time snapshot of public health trends and concerns.
Post-Publication Peer Review and Knowledge Translation
Knowledge translation and post-publication peer review, which refers to the evaluation and critique of scientific articles after publication, can be greatly enhanced by Twitter. In traditional academic publishing, the peer review process takes place before an article is published. However, post-publication peer review allows for ongoing evaluation of published research and can lead to improved understanding and implementation of scientific findings.
Researchers can share their work on Twitter and receive immediate feedback from other experts in their field, facilitating this process. As a result, knowledge exchange and refinement can become more dynamic and iterative. Additionally, Twitter chats can enable knowledge translation and post-publication peer review. These chats bring together experts from different disciplines to discuss a specific issue or research question. This format allows a variety of perspectives to be shared and can lead to new insights and collaborations. The use of Twitter can also be used to promote open science practices, which aim to make scientific research more transparent and accessible.
Twitter communication and knowledge exchange barriers
While Twitter presents many opportunities for healthcare professionals to exchange knowledge and engage with the broader community, there are also potential barriers to its use. One major concern is the quality of information available on the platform, which can be difficult to verify and may be subject to bias or misinformation. Another challenge is the potential for privacy violations or breaches of confidentiality when discussing patient cases or sensitive medical information.
Furthermore, while Twitter’s open nature allows for broad participation and diverse perspectives, this can also lead to issues with harassment, trolling, and other forms of negative behavior. In addition, some healthcare professionals may be hesitant to engage with social media or lack the necessary skills or training to use Twitter effectively.
It is important for healthcare professionals to be aware of these potential barriers, to take steps to address them and to use Twitter in a thoughtful and intentional way, taking steps to verify information, provide context, and protect patient privacy. Additionally, healthcare organizations and institutions can provide guidance and resources to help clinicians and researchers effectively leverage Twitter for knowledge exchange while mitigating these potential challenges.
5 Ways To Overcome Twitter Barriers
1. Use curated lists
Twitter lists can be used to organize and categorize people or accounts that a health professional follows. Curated lists can help them find and keep track of relevant content, people, and discussions, and avoid being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tweets.
2. Be mindful of privacy and confidentiality
Health professionals must be careful not to disclose any patient information or protected health information (PHI) on Twitter. They should avoid engaging in any conversations that could compromise patient privacy or confidentiality.
3. Follow trusted sources
Follow reputable sources, such as medical journals, professional organizations, and experts in their field. This can help ensure that they receive accurate and reliable information.
4. Engage in conversations
Twitter is a platform for two-way communication, and health professionals should engage in conversations and discussions with other users. This can help them expand their network and gain new perspectives.
5. Maintain a professional tone
Health professionals should maintain a professional tone and avoid engaging in heated or controversial discussions. They should remember that their tweets reflect on their professional reputation and the reputation of their institution.
REFS
[1] Brownson, Ross C. PhD; Eyler, Amy A. PhD; Harris, Jenine K. PhD; Moore, Justin B. PhD, MS; Tabak, Rachel G. PhD, RD. Getting the Word Out: New Approaches for Disseminating Public Health Science. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice 24(2):p 102–111, March/April 2018.
[2] Bernhardt JM, Mays D, Kreuter MW. Dissemination 2.0: closing the gap between knowledge and practice with new media and marketing. J Health Commun. 2011;16 Suppl 1:32–44.
Notes
New England Journal of Medicine Group’s Resident 360 has embraced the potential of social media as a tool for promoting the uptake of evidence-based practices in clinical practice.
The International Society for Evidence-Based Neonatology (EBNeo) continuously reviews newly published neonatal research and highlights important findings through various social media platforms.
