Attitudes Toward and Use of Social Media Among Urology Residents
CUA Online Library. Fuoco M. 06/25/13; 31335; MP-08.05
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Abstract
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Michael Fuoco and Michael J Leveridge
Attitudes Toward and Use of Social Media Among Urology Residents
Introduction and Objectives
Social Media services are enormously popular, particularly in younger age groups. Their impact on medical and urologic practice is unknown. We sought to understand urology residents’ engagement in and attitudes toward social media
Methods
A survey was given to all PGY1-3 and PGY5 Canadian urology residents at two national review courses. We used Likert scales to assess social media use as well as attitudes toward the roles, responsibilities and caveats of online interaction in a professional capacity.
Results
67 of 110 delivered surveys were completed. 65% of residents admitted frequent or daily personal social media use; 3% frequently use these services professionally. There were no differences between PGY5 residents (n=31) and juniors (n=36;p.0.05). Facebook (77% of frequent users) and YouTube (62%) were most common. 22% of residents regularly post on social media services; none is an author of or contributor to a blog. Interprofessional discussion of patient cases or direct patient interaction was endorsed by 34% and 16% of residents, respectively. The most appropriate roles of social media services in health care were thought to be as interprofessional discussion forums (66%) or simple information repositories (65%). Less than 4% of residents were aware of institutional or medical association guidelines for social media use; 62-84% were unaware of their existence. 98% felt that physicians should be careful about the content of their posts, even on personal accounts; 85% felt that “unprofessional” posts would (and 53% felt that they should) put physicians at risk of discipline from regulatory bodies. Boundary and privacy issues were perceived to be insurmountable by 41% of residents, although 79% feel that online patient-physician interaction will be unavoidable in the future. Final-year residents were more likely to endorse a zero-contact policy toward online contact with patients (p=0.008).
Conclusions
Urology residents are frequent users of social media platforms, but remain apprehensive about health care applications, and avoid its use professionally. Residents feel social media is best employed in interprofessional communication, but consider patient interaction inevitable in the future
Attitudes Toward and Use of Social Media Among Urology Residents
Introduction and Objectives
Social Media services are enormously popular, particularly in younger age groups. Their impact on medical and urologic practice is unknown. We sought to understand urology residents’ engagement in and attitudes toward social media
Methods
A survey was given to all PGY1-3 and PGY5 Canadian urology residents at two national review courses. We used Likert scales to assess social media use as well as attitudes toward the roles, responsibilities and caveats of online interaction in a professional capacity.
Results
67 of 110 delivered surveys were completed. 65% of residents admitted frequent or daily personal social media use; 3% frequently use these services professionally. There were no differences between PGY5 residents (n=31) and juniors (n=36;p.0.05). Facebook (77% of frequent users) and YouTube (62%) were most common. 22% of residents regularly post on social media services; none is an author of or contributor to a blog. Interprofessional discussion of patient cases or direct patient interaction was endorsed by 34% and 16% of residents, respectively. The most appropriate roles of social media services in health care were thought to be as interprofessional discussion forums (66%) or simple information repositories (65%). Less than 4% of residents were aware of institutional or medical association guidelines for social media use; 62-84% were unaware of their existence. 98% felt that physicians should be careful about the content of their posts, even on personal accounts; 85% felt that “unprofessional” posts would (and 53% felt that they should) put physicians at risk of discipline from regulatory bodies. Boundary and privacy issues were perceived to be insurmountable by 41% of residents, although 79% feel that online patient-physician interaction will be unavoidable in the future. Final-year residents were more likely to endorse a zero-contact policy toward online contact with patients (p=0.008).
Conclusions
Urology residents are frequent users of social media platforms, but remain apprehensive about health care applications, and avoid its use professionally. Residents feel social media is best employed in interprofessional communication, but consider patient interaction inevitable in the future
Michael Fuoco and Michael J Leveridge
Attitudes Toward and Use of Social Media Among Urology Residents
Introduction and Objectives
Social Media services are enormously popular, particularly in younger age groups. Their impact on medical and urologic practice is unknown. We sought to understand urology residents’ engagement in and attitudes toward social media
Methods
A survey was given to all PGY1-3 and PGY5 Canadian urology residents at two national review courses. We used Likert scales to assess social media use as well as attitudes toward the roles, responsibilities and caveats of online interaction in a professional capacity.
Results
67 of 110 delivered surveys were completed. 65% of residents admitted frequent or daily personal social media use; 3% frequently use these services professionally. There were no differences between PGY5 residents (n=31) and juniors (n=36;p.0.05). Facebook (77% of frequent users) and YouTube (62%) were most common. 22% of residents regularly post on social media services; none is an author of or contributor to a blog. Interprofessional discussion of patient cases or direct patient interaction was endorsed by 34% and 16% of residents, respectively. The most appropriate roles of social media services in health care were thought to be as interprofessional discussion forums (66%) or simple information repositories (65%). Less than 4% of residents were aware of institutional or medical association guidelines for social media use; 62-84% were unaware of their existence. 98% felt that physicians should be careful about the content of their posts, even on personal accounts; 85% felt that “unprofessional” posts would (and 53% felt that they should) put physicians at risk of discipline from regulatory bodies. Boundary and privacy issues were perceived to be insurmountable by 41% of residents, although 79% feel that online patient-physician interaction will be unavoidable in the future. Final-year residents were more likely to endorse a zero-contact policy toward online contact with patients (p=0.008).
Conclusions
Urology residents are frequent users of social media platforms, but remain apprehensive about health care applications, and avoid its use professionally. Residents feel social media is best employed in interprofessional communication, but consider patient interaction inevitable in the future
Attitudes Toward and Use of Social Media Among Urology Residents
Introduction and Objectives
Social Media services are enormously popular, particularly in younger age groups. Their impact on medical and urologic practice is unknown. We sought to understand urology residents’ engagement in and attitudes toward social media
Methods
A survey was given to all PGY1-3 and PGY5 Canadian urology residents at two national review courses. We used Likert scales to assess social media use as well as attitudes toward the roles, responsibilities and caveats of online interaction in a professional capacity.
Results
67 of 110 delivered surveys were completed. 65% of residents admitted frequent or daily personal social media use; 3% frequently use these services professionally. There were no differences between PGY5 residents (n=31) and juniors (n=36;p.0.05). Facebook (77% of frequent users) and YouTube (62%) were most common. 22% of residents regularly post on social media services; none is an author of or contributor to a blog. Interprofessional discussion of patient cases or direct patient interaction was endorsed by 34% and 16% of residents, respectively. The most appropriate roles of social media services in health care were thought to be as interprofessional discussion forums (66%) or simple information repositories (65%). Less than 4% of residents were aware of institutional or medical association guidelines for social media use; 62-84% were unaware of their existence. 98% felt that physicians should be careful about the content of their posts, even on personal accounts; 85% felt that “unprofessional” posts would (and 53% felt that they should) put physicians at risk of discipline from regulatory bodies. Boundary and privacy issues were perceived to be insurmountable by 41% of residents, although 79% feel that online patient-physician interaction will be unavoidable in the future. Final-year residents were more likely to endorse a zero-contact policy toward online contact with patients (p=0.008).
Conclusions
Urology residents are frequent users of social media platforms, but remain apprehensive about health care applications, and avoid its use professionally. Residents feel social media is best employed in interprofessional communication, but consider patient interaction inevitable in the future
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