Blogs read by 20% of UK medical students, but only 8% write their own

A wide range of social media tools has become readily available in recent years, to the extent that the use of Facebook in particular is perceived as "second nature" by many students. There is increasing interest in the possibilities of using this social media services for medical education - blogs, wikis, Twitter and Facebook.

This UK study included a self-administered questionnaire survey of 212 first year medical students.

Over 90% used instant messaging. Social networking sites were also highly used - by 70%. There was no significant difference between males and females.

Blogs were read by 20% of students and a small number (8%) wrote their own blogs.

20% of males were users of media sharing and contributed to wikis.

Social bookmarking was rarely used by either gender.

Medical educators need to recognise the potential of social software in medical education but it is essential that students maintain the informality and privacy of these sites. The challenge is how to integrate social software into current curricula and institutional Virtual Learning Environments.

References:
Web 2.0 and social software: the medical student way of e-learning. Sandars J, Homer M, Pell G, Crocker T. Med Teach. 2010 Jun 18.

Comments from Twitter:

@DrVes I didn't expect that 8% of med students in the study wrote blogs - this is not my experience from teaching students and residents at Cleveland Clinic, Case Western and Creighton University.

@sandnsurf Medical education blog vs tumblr/posterous blog possibly. My students are at 10% for blog writing but 1% are actually medical.

@DrVes This is way higher than the stats here in the U.S. "Everybody's on Facebook, nobody has a blog"... :)

@doctorwhitecoat Not to jump mid convo, but at my school, I can say that most don't have blogs... at most maybe 3-5% and those that do... don't update.

@DrVes 2-5% is high. There was only one blogging student at Cleveland Clinic medical school who stopped after 1-2 years.

Related reading:

Assistant professor uses Twitter to teach students dental anatomy at Ohio State University - 113 of 200 students signed up, 56% http://goo.gl/jvyq7

Image source: Blogger.com.

Tips for social media for employees at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center: what you write is forever

By the Dartmouth-Hitchcock-YouTube channel:

Social media is everywhere... and what you write is forever.

A simple rule: If you would like something loud in the cafeteria full from people who say, shouldn't say it on Facebook, Twitter or other social media sites.

How can social networks be used? Planned even if your own phone and you only Tweet is quick to send only can social media for personal reasons on their own time, such as during breaks or meals you.

What is not allowed?

-Posting protected health information or personally identifiable information for patients

-With the help of information created, or for the Dartmouth Hitchcock such as logos, photos, and videos - without the consent of the Department of marketing and public relations. Registered content.

-The creation of social media sites that are branded without the consent of Public Relations and marketing as Dartmouth Hitchcock.

I have a short list of suggestions for medical bloggers for several years. Here it is:

Tips for medical bloggers

Write you as if your boss and your patients every day reading your blog
Compliance of HIPAA law
-Should the use of their name and the login information for your blog and other social networking accounts
-If your blog is connected to work, it is advisable to know your employer.
Inform you if an employee social media guidelines. If it is not strictly under them.
-Verwenden is a disclaimer, such as "all opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and not of the employer. Information for medical education is only here. "Is not as intended and is not a substitute for medical advice".
-Holen you credited to your blog by Heath on the Net Foundation

Here is how the rise of the ePhysican to facilitate works of the hand with the ePatient:



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