Evolution of social media: review of the role of podcasts in gynaecology.

Abstract

Podcasts are an emerging social media phenomenon in medicine, originating from critical care specialities and now expanding to other domains. Aided by the rapid increase in popularity of social media platforms and the advantage of accessibility, universality and portability, there has been a slow but significant expansion of podcast use in gynaecology. Current literature suggests that there is potential for digital communication to enhance dissemination of information, however there is conflicting evidence on its ability to increase users' knowledge. Emerging interest in urogynaecology presents an opportunity for the subspeciality to tailor podcasts to the needs of its users. In this review, the origins, current evidence and future trends in the use of podcasts in urogynaecology are explored.