Association Between Institutional Social Media Involvement and Gastroenterology Divisional Rankings: Cohort Study

Austin Lee Chiang · Loren Galler Rabinowitz · Akhil Kumar · Walter W. Chan

16 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Medical Internet Research

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Social Media in Health Education Digital Marketing and Social Media Web visibility and informetrics

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients often look to social media as an important tool to gather information about institutions and professionals. Since 1990, United States News and World Report (USNWR) has published annual rankings of hospitals and subspecialty divisions. It remains unknown if social media presence is associated with the USNWR gastroenterology and gastrointestinal (GI) surgery divisional rankings, or how changes in online presence over time affects division ranking. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine if social media presence is associated with USNWR gastroenterology and GI surgery divisional rankings and to ascertain how changes in online presence over time affect division rankings. METHODS: Social media presence among the top 30 institutions listed in the 2014 USNWR gastroenterology and GI surgery divisional rankings were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficients and multivariate analysis, controlling for covariates. Linear and logistic regression using data from 2014 and 2016 USNWR rankings were then used to assess the association between institutional ranking or reputation score with any potential changes in numbers of followers over time. Sensitivity analysis was performed by assessing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve to determine the follower threshold associated with improved or maintained ranking, which was done by dichotomizing changes in followers at values between the 7000 and 12,000 follower mark. RESULTS: Twitter follower count was an independent predictor of divisional ranking (β=.00004; P<.001) and reputation score (β=-.00002; P=.03) in 2014. Academic affiliation also independently predicted USNWR division ranking (β=5.3; P=.04) and reputation score (β=-7.3; P=.03). Between 2014 and 2016, Twitter followers remained significantly associated with improved or maintained rankings (OR 14.63; 95% CI 1.08-197.81; P=.04). On sensitivity analysis, an 8000 person increase in Twitter followers significantly predicted improved or maintained rankings compared to other cutoffs. CONCLUSIONS: Institutional social media presence is independently associated with USNWR divisional ranking and reputation score. Improvement in social media following was also independently associated with improved or maintained divisional ranking and reputation score, with a threshold of 8000 additional followers as the best predictor of improved or stable ranking.

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2009Twitter power: Tweets as electronic word of mouth 2013The Geography of Happiness: Connecting Twitter Sentiment and Expression, Demographics, and Objective Characteristics of Place 2012Understanding the Factors That Influence the Adoption and Meaningful Use of Social Media by Physicians to Share Medical Information 2014Use of Social Media Across US Hospitals: Descriptive Analysis of Adoption and Utilization 2011How U.S. Hospitals Use Social Media 2017Twitter Activity Associated With U.S. News and World Report Reputation Scores for Urology Departments

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