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Social media for dissemination and public engagement in neurosurgery-the example of Brainbook.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Alamri, A 
Kearns, C 
Doke, T 
Al-Habib, A 

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Public engagement has become one of the most effective tools in gaining feedback and perspectives from members of the public, involving patients with decisions, and inspiring young people to carry the medical profession forwards. Brainbook is a multi-platform, social media-based resource that was created specifically to enhance public engagement in neurosurgery and results from one of its case discussions will be reported in this paper. METHODS: A Brainbook case was created in collaboration with the NIHR Global Health Research Group on Neurotrauma and presented over 3 days (23-25 February 2018). YouTube videos were created depicting the management of an acute subdural haematoma using patient interviews, medical illustration, consultant-led discussion and operative footage. Content was shared across all Brainbook social media platforms and analytics were gathered through social media applications. RESULTS: Over a 72-hour time period, and across multiple social media accounts, 101,418 impressions were achieved (defined as penetrance onto individual media feeds and total views of the content), with active discussion on social media. CONCLUSIONS: Neurosurgical content published across multiple social media outlets represents an encouraging and exciting potential for global engagement across multiple audiences. Social media can be an effective method of not only disseminating neurosurgical knowledge, but activating and engaging the public, allied healthcare professionals, medical students and neurosurgeons.

Description

Keywords

Brainbook, Global surgery, Neurosurgery, Public engagement, Science dissemination, Community Participation, Decision Making, Humans, Neurosurgery, Social Media

Journal Title

Acta Neurochir (Wien)

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0001-6268
0942-0940

Volume Title

161

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
European Commission (602150)
Medical Research Council (G0601025)
Medical Research Council (G1002277)
Medical Research Council (G0600986)
Medical Research Council (G9439390)
NETSCC (None)
NETSCC (None)
TCC (None)
Medical Research Council (G0600986/1)
Medical Research Council (G1002277/1)