How ophthalmologists and ophthalmologists-in-training in Nigeria use the social media

Abstract

Background: The social media has revolutionized the practice of medicine in the area of communication and information dissemination.

Aim: This study aims at examining the ways ophthalmologists who practice in Nigeria use the social media and how they impact on their practice.

Materials and Methods: This was cross-sectional study of eighty-seven (87) consenting ophthalmologists and ophthalmology residents at the 40^th Annual Scientific and General Meeting of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria held from 24^th to 28^th August, 2015 in Jos, Nigeria. Self-administered questionnaires and data obtained were recorded in the data sheets and analysed using the SPSS version 20 (2014). Simple statistics and comparisons of associated variables were made using Chi-square.

Results: Of the 87 respondents, 82 (94.2%) used the social media while only 5 (5.8%) were not on any social media platform. WhatsApp was the preferred social media platform with 50 (50.5%) of the respondents using it, followed by Facebook (38; 38.4%), LinkedIn (8;8.1%), Instagram (2;2.0%) and Twitter (1; 1.0%).

Majority of the respondents (66; 46.5%) used the social media for social interaction; 43 (30.3%) of them used them to interact and collaborate with colleagues; 21 (14.8%) utilized them for patients' education. Only 6 (4.2%) of the respondents used the social media for marketing of their practice.

Fifty-two (59.9%) of the respondents believed that the use of social media had enhanced their practice.

Conclusions: The study has shown that majority of the ophthalmologists and residents interviewed were on the social media platform. However, social interaction with friends was the major reason they use the social media.

Keywords: Social media, use, ophthalmologists and ophthalmologist-in-training