title: Twitter as a tool for communication and knowledge exchange in academic medicine: A guide for skeptics and novices.
abstract: Twitter is a tool for physicians to increase engagement of learners and the public, share scientific information, crowdsource new ideas, conduct, discuss and challenge emerging research, pursue professional development and continuing medical education, expand networks around specialized topics and provide moral support to colleagues. However, new users or skeptics may well be wary of its potential pitfalls. The aims of this commentary are to discuss the potential advantages of the Twitter platform for dialogue among physicians, to explore the barriers to accurate and high-quality healthcare discourse and, finally, to recommend potential safeguards physicians may employ against these threats in order to participate productively.
authors.affiliation: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University , USA .
authors.forename: Esther K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.forename: Megan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ranney
authors.forename: Teresa M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: N Seth
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Trueger
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tegtmeyer
authors.forename: Shannon O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: McNamara
authors.forename: Ricky Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Christopher L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Carroll
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D019058:Community Networks; D063045:Crowdsourcing / Q000379:methods; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D019359:Knowledge; D010819:Physician's Role; D010820:Physicians; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D061108:Social Media