Using Twitter for Collaboration Among Mesothelioma Specialists
Doctors are already turning to emerging technology on their smartphones to help in the treatment of their mesothelioma patients. Now, two surgeons are encouraging other surgeons and physicians to take advantage of the various social media sites, especially Twitter, “to enhance surgeon and patient education and communication.” A physician who specializes in treating mesothelioma patients, for example, could quickly disseminate accurate, timely information via Twitter to others in the field.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Only 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease each year, and as a result, many thoracic surgeons and oncologists may not have seen a case during their career. Through Twitter and Facebook, physicians managing a client diagnosed with the disease can get critical next step and referral information from their peers.
Dr. Philip Glick, pediatric surgeon and vice-chair for finance and development, department of surgery, pediatrics and obstetrics/gynecology, State University of New York at Buffalo, and Dr. Sani Yamout, a fellow in pediatric surgery at State University, are so passionate about the benefits of Twitter they have co-authored “Using Social Media to enhance surgeon and patient education and communication,” published in the July bulletin of the American College of Surgeons.
In the article, the authors state that “social media is a powerful tool that can be used effectively and efficiently for peer, patient, and family communication.” However, the authors found that surgeons are slow to adopt the technology, and 80% of the surgeons surveyed say they have never used Twitter.
The authors believe that many surgeons see the use of the media as trivial and personal and, thus, do not see the value in the medical profession. The authors stress that social media is “a cost-effective and efficient means to share information and create and maintain professional relationships.”
In fact, in one episode of Grey’s Anatomy, an ABC medical drama series, Dr. Bailey, attending surgeon, turns to Twitter during one of her surgeries as an educational tool for medical students. Lexie Grey, an intern, twittered key information during the surgery, such as “dividing distal resection margin w/ surgical stapler,” and walked followers through the surgery. The show created a live Twitter account for Bailey, and they have continued to keep the site active throughout the current season.
In a study conducted by Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, researchers found that doctors have been effectively using Twitter to share information about CPR and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and discuss resuscitation topics in the news. However, the authors indicate that the use of Twitter in this manner is still in its infancy.
“Twitter is an incredible resource for connecting and mobilizing people, and it offers users a way to receive instant feedback and information. The potential applications of social media for cardiac arrest are vast,” says Dr Raina Merchant, an assistant professor of emergency medicine and a senior fellow in the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics.
The potential applications for mesothelioma, and other incurable cancers, are also vast. With continuous research and breakthroughs in the medical field, sending or receiving a Tweet that can impact the prescribed treatment for a mesothelioma patient can be critical.
