title: Thou shalt not tweet unprofessionally: an appreciative inquiry into the professional use of social media.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Social media may blur the line between socialisation and professional use. Traditional views on medical professionalism focus on limiting motives and behaviours to avoid situations that may compromise care. It is not surprising that social media are perceived as a threat to professionalism.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop evidence for the professional use of social media in medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative framework was used based on an appreciative inquiry approach to gather perceptions and experiences of 31 participants at the 2014 Social Media Summit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main benefits of social media were the widening of networks, access to expertise from peers and other health professionals, the provision of emotional support and the ability to combat feelings of isolation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Appreciative inquiry is a tool that can develop the positive practices of organisations and individuals. Our results provide evidence for the professional use of social media that may contribute to guidelines to help individuals realise benefits and avoid harms.
authors: Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: Pereira
authors: Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK.
authors: Anne Marie
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7186-3573
authors: AM
authors: Cunningham
authors: University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Moreau
authors: McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Sherbino
authors: University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Jalali
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D032921:Consensus; D004493:Education; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D010819:Physician's Role; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D061108:Social Media / Q000639:trends; D012955:Societies, Medical
keywords: MEDICAL EDUCATION & TRAINING