Social Media in Neuro-Oncology: A Review
Author Information
Author(s): Klein Benjamin R., Levi David J., Shah Ashish H., Ivan Michael E., Levi Allan D.
Primary Institution: The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Hypothesis
What are the benefits and drawbacks of social media use for neurosurgical oncologists?
Conclusion
While social media can enhance patient outreach and professional presence, it also poses risks such as misinformation and potential career repercussions.
Supporting Evidence
- Over 40% of healthcare consumers use social media for health information.
- 70% of physicians from top U.S. hospitals have at least one social media profile.
- Neurosurgical oncologists under 50 are more active on social media.
- Social media can lead to increased patient referrals for neurosurgeons.
- 19% of cancer-related social media posts contain scientifically inaccurate information.
Takeaway
Doctors use social media to connect with patients and share information, but they need to be careful about what they post because it can affect their careers.
Methodology
The authors performed a rigorous literature review on the topic, analyzing peer-reviewed manuscripts related to social media in neuro-oncology.
Potential Biases
The nature of the data discussed is primarily objective metrics from peer-reviewed articles, minimizing bias risks.
Limitations
The authors did not perform a systematic review, which may introduce selection bias.
Participant Demographics
The review included studies involving healthcare providers and patients, with a focus on neurosurgical oncologists.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0003
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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