title: Social media: a tool to spread information: a case study analysis of twitter conversation at the Cardiac Society of Australia & New Zealand 61st annual scientific meeting 2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The World Wide Web has changed the way in which people communicate and consume information. More importantly, this innovation has increased the speed and spread of information. There has been recent increase in the percentage of cardiovascular professionals, including journals and associations using Twitter to engage with others and exchange ideas. Evaluating the reach and impact in scientific meetings is important in promoting the use of social media.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated Twitter use during the recent 61st Annual Scientific Meeting at the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand 2013 61st Annual Scientific Meeting Symplur was used to curate conversations that were publicly posted with the hashtag #CSANZ2013. The hashtag was monitored with analysis focused on the influencers, latest tweets, tweet statistics, activity comparisons, and tweet activity during the conference. Additionally, Radian6 social media listening software was used to collect data. A summary is provided.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 669 total tweets sent from 107 unique Twitter accounts during 8th August 9 a.m. to 11th August 1 p.m. This averaged nine tweets per hour and six tweets per participant. This assisted in the sharing of ideas and disseminating the findings and conclusions from presenters at the conference with a total 1,432,573 potential impressions in Twitter users tweet streams.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This analysis of Twitter conversations during a recent scientific meeting highlights the significance and place of social media within research dissemination and collaboration. Researchers and clinicians should consider using this technology to enhance timely communication of findings. The potential to engage with consumers and enhance shared decision-making should be explored further.
authors.forename: Caleb
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Sally C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Inglis
authors.forename: Phillip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: Peter J S
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cripps
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D002309:Cardiology; D003142:Communication; D003226:Congresses as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009520:New Zealand; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D061108:Social Media