The current use of Twitter in orthopaedic surgery departments: A cross-sectional analysis

Abstract

Background: The extent to which individual clinical departments use Twitter™ is largely unknown. Further, impact of use has not been extensively studied. The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze Twitter™ utilization by orthopaedic surgery departments and to gauge the implications Twitter™ use has on the status of the department. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of Twitter utilization for all Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited orthopaedic surgery training programs. Tweets between May 1 and December 1, 2018 were categorized and Tweet impact was assessed using public interaction. Program rankings, as measured by Doximity and US News and World Report (USNWR), were correlated with various Twitter variables. Correlations were calculated with Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: Of the 153 ACGME-accredited orthopaedic surgery departments, 24 (15.7%) had Twitter accounts. The departments averaged 1079.35±713.47 followers and a mean of 16.16±13.83 tweets per month. Most tweets were internally generated “unique” tweets. Unique tweets had a mean of 4.50±0.04 likes and 1.10±0.12 retweets per tweet. Twitter account profile data and tweet content demonstrated equal numbers of tweets categorized as “educational” and “other”. Both Doximity and USNWR had more favorable ranks with increasing variables of all Twitter categories, and there was a statistically significant correlation between greater number of post “likes” and a higher USNWR score. Conclusions: Twitter is underutilized by orthopaedic surgery departments and has a small correlation with the reputation of the department. Level of Evidence: Level IV.