title: Translating evidence to practice in the health professions: a randomized trial of Twitter vs Facebook.
abstract: Our objective was to compare the change in research informed knowledge of health professionals and their intended practice following exposure to research information delivered by either Twitter or Facebook.
  
  
  
  This open label comparative design study randomized health professional clinicians to receive "practice points" on tendinopathy management via Twitter or Facebook. Evaluated outcomes included knowledge change and self-reported changes to clinical practice.
  
  
  
  Four hundred and ninety-four participants were randomized to 1 of 2 groups and 317 responders analyzed. Both groups demonstrated improvements in knowledge and reported changes to clinical practice. There was no statistical difference between groups for the outcomes of knowledge change (P = .728), changes to clinical practice (P = .11) or the increased use of research information (P = .89). Practice points were shared more by the Twitter group (P < .001); attrition was lower in the Facebook group (P < .001).
  
  
  
  Research information delivered by either Twitter or Facebook can improve clinician knowledge and promote behavior change. No differences in these outcomes were observed between the Twitter and Facebook groups. Brief social media posts are as effective as longer posts for improving knowledge and promoting behavior change. Twitter may be more useful in publicizing information and Facebook for encouraging course completion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Monash University, Frankston, Australia.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tunnecliff
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weiner
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Physiotherapy and University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise (UCRISE), University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gaida
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Monash University, Frankston, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Keating
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Monash University, Frankston, Australia.
authors.forename: Prue
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ilic
authors.affiliation: School of Primary Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Lyn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Clearihan
authors.affiliation: Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: JC School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Monash University, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Sivalal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sadasivan
authors.affiliation: Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: Patitapaban
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mohanty
authors.affiliation: Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: Shankar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ganesh
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Monash University, Frankston, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maloney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D035843:Biomedical Research; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D004496:Education, Continuing; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D061108:Social Media; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000628:therapy
keywords: communication; computer-assisted instruction; education; evidence-based practice; professional; social media