Breaking International Barriers: #ColorectalSurgery Is #GlobalSurgery

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Surgery
• Social Media in Healthcare

Background:

• Colorectal surgeons have historically underutilized social media platforms for professional engagement.
• Twitter has emerged as the primary social network for professional use within this specialty.
• Key drivers for Twitter adoption include its capacity for connection, information contagion, immediate feedback, and measurable impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the adoption and impact of social media, specifically Twitter, among colorectal surgeons.
• To evaluate the growth and engagement surrounding the #colorectalsurgery hashtag.
• To identify barriers and benefits associated with social media use in the colorectal surgery community.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the growth and engagement metrics of the #colorectalsurgery hashtag since its inception in early 2016.
• Observation of the role of live-tweeting during surgical conferences in driving adoption.
• Identification of reported challenges and advantages of social media use by professionals.

Main Results:

• The #colorectalsurgery hashtag quickly gained traction, attracting over 2,600 users and generating over 24,000 tweets and 100 million impressions within a year.
• "Live-Tweeting" of surgical conferences significantly contributed to the initiative's success.
• Barriers include data misrepresentation, intellectual property concerns, and potential damage to professional image.

Conclusions:

• Active participation in the #colorectalsurgery Twitter community offers significant benefits, including enhanced information sharing, professional networking, personal branding, and research opportunities.
• Despite challenges, social media engagement can positively impact the broader global surgery community.
• The rapid growth of the #colorectalsurgery hashtag demonstrates the potential of social media for professional development in surgery.