Social media in interventional radiology.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging and Interventional Radiology
• Digital Health and Social Media Analytics
• Professional Networking and Online Presence

Background:

• Social media offers Interventional Radiologists platforms for research dissemination, professional networking, health communication, and practice promotion.
• Understanding the current online and social media engagement of Australian Interventional Radiologists is crucial for optimizing digital strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the extent and nature of the online and social media presence of practicing Interventional Radiologists in Australia.
• To identify trends in social media utilization among Interventional Radiologists based on practice area and experience.

Main Methods:

• Systematic Google searches were conducted in May 2019 and updated in May 2020 to identify practicing Interventional Radiologists across Australia.
• Searches encompassed practice websites and major social media platforms including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, ResearchGate, and YouTube for each identified practitioner.

Main Results:

• A total of 265 Interventional Radiologists were identified in Australia.
• 72% of practitioners maintained at least one social media account, with LinkedIn being the most prevalent (60%).
• A negative correlation was observed between years in practice and the number of social media accounts (P=0.04); Interventional Neuroradiologists utilized social media more extensively than general Interventional Radiologists.

Conclusions:

• The majority of Australian Interventional Radiologists possess a discernible social media presence.
• Significant opportunities exist for enhancing the use of social media for academic, educational, and professional marketing purposes within Interventional Radiology.