Research Dissemination Strategies in Pediatric Emergency Care Using a Professional Twitter (X) Account: A Mixed...

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Health Services Research
• Scientific Communication

Background:

• Effective research dissemination is crucial for translating scientific findings into clinical practice.
• Social media platforms, such as Twitter (X), present opportunities for research dissemination.
• Research organizations require structured guidance for establishing a professional social media presence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive roadmap for creating a professional Twitter account tailored for research dissemination.
• To guide organizations in leveraging social media for effective scientific communication.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach analyzed a 4-year experience of a research network's Twitter account (2020-2023).
• Qualitative data were gathered using the nominal group technique from 6 team members.
• Quantitative data included Twitter performance metrics and Altmetric Attention Scores, informing a logic model framework.

Main Results:

• The nominal group technique identified 63 thematic statements, coalescing into 7 domains of a logic model.
• Key inputs included organizational support, specialized personnel, and operational technologies.
• Outputs comprised targeted activities like engaging content and an operations manual; outcomes were measured by engagement metrics and article impact.

Conclusions:

• A data-driven logic model framework, developed from practical experience, can guide research organizations in using Twitter for dissemination.
• This framework assists medical institutions in establishing a professional social media presence for enhanced scientific outreach.