Hashtags in healthcare: understanding Twitter hashtags and online engagement at the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma 2016–2019 meetings

Abstract

BackgroundSocial media amplifies the accessibility, reach and impact of medical education and conferences alike. The use of hashtags at medical conferences allows material to be discussed and improved on by the experts via online conversation on Twitter. We aim to investigate the utilization of hashtags at the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) meetings from 2016 to 2019 and its potential role in knowledge dissemination and meeting participations.MethodsSymplur Signals software was used to analyze hashtags for the AAST meetings by year: #AAST2016, #AAST2017, #AAST2018, #AAST2019.ResultsNumber of tweets decreased significantly from 2016 to 2019 (4500 to 4400 to 3600 to 2600, respectively, p<0.05). Retweets also decreased significantly from 2016 to 2019 (3600 to 3300 to 2600 to 1900, respectively, p<0.05). Users decreased from 2016 to 2019 (1600 to 1400 to 937 to 743, respectively, p<0.05). Despite this decrease, impressions were 5.8 million in 2016, increasing to 8.6 million in 2017, then 9.6 million in 2018 and finally peaking in 2019 where impressions reached 10 million (p<0.05). The top influencer for 2016–2019 was the AAST Twitter account.ConclusionTwitter #AAST 2016–2019 online engagement and interactions have declined during the last 4 years while impressions have grown steadily indicating potential widespread dissemination of trauma-related knowledge and evidence-based practices, and increased online utilization of conference material to trauma surgeons, residents and fellows, trauma scientists, other physicians and the lay public. #AAST online engagement and impressions did not have influence on meeting attendance rates.

Mapping Individual Differences on the Internet: Case Study of the Type 1 Diabetes Community

“…Importantly, these findings converge with prior conclusions regarding web-based engagement, such as those web-based communities serving as sources of positive emotion [ 3 ], providing practical support [ 3 - 5 ], advocating for needed health care reforms [ 12 , 13 ], and disseminating results from clinical research [ 15 , 16 ]. Compared to prior work, however, these analyses incorporated a very large number of users and made use of algorithmic methods to categorize web-based messages.…”

“…By sharing information on the internet, health care providers and health researchers have the potential to reduce systematic barriers to accessing new information. In one instance, assessment of social media use around medical conferences suggested that even when only a small proportion of attendees use social media, the information presented at the conference can be widely disseminated to those unable to attend [ 15 , 16 ].…”

Advancing trauma care through social media

“…7 Multiple medical conferences have found similar results in that Twitter and hashtags (phrases used to link together posts on a similar subject) help expand audiences and allow for valuable dialogue in real time. [7][8][9][10] Recently, a study done on the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma annual meeting showed a decline in tweets from 2016 to 2019 but an increase in impressions (estimated potential views of a tweet 7 ) from 5.8 million to 10 million. 10 The increasing number of impressions for these annual meetings shows that social media continues to provide large audiences despite decline in tweets.…”

“…[7][8][9][10] Recently, a study done on the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma annual meeting showed a decline in tweets from 2016 to 2019 but an increase in impressions (estimated potential views of a tweet 7 ) from 5.8 million to 10 million. 10 The increasing number of impressions for these annual meetings shows that social media continues to provide large audiences despite decline in tweets. 10 The Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma Scientific Assembly Twitter activity was examined between 2016 and 2020.…”

“… 10 The increasing number of impressions for these annual meetings shows that social media continues to provide large audiences despite decline in tweets. 10 The Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma Scientific Assembly Twitter activity was examined between 2016 and 2020. During this time, impressions increased from 6.6 million to 20.3 million over 4 years.…”