title: Social media use among young rheumatologists and basic scientists: results of an international survey by the Emerging EULAR Network (EMEUNET).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore perceptions, barriers and patterns of social media (SM) use among rheumatology fellows and basic scientists.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey was disseminated via Twitter, Facebook and by email to members of the Emerging European League Against Rheumatism Network. Questions focused on general demographics, frequency and types of SM use, reasons and barriers to SM use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 233 respondents (47 countries), 72% were aged 30-39 years, 66% female. 83% were active users of at least one SM platform and 71% were using SM professionally. The majority used SM for communicating with friends/colleagues (79%), news updates (76%), entertainment (69%), clinical (50%) and research (48%) updates. Facebook was the dominant platform used (91%). SM was reported to be used for information (81%); for expanding professional networks (76%); new resources (59%); learning new skills (47%) and establishing a professional online presence (46%). 30% of non-SM users justified not using SM due to lack of knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a substantial use of SM by rheumatologists and basic scientists for social and professional reasons. The survey highlights a need for providing learning resources and increasing awareness of the use of SM. This could enhance communication, participation and collaborative work, enabling its more widespread use in a professional manner.
authors: Rheumatology Department, Whittington Hospital, London, UK.
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Nikiphorou
authors: Department of Internal Medicine 3, Division of Rheumatology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.|Department of Internal Medicine 3, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Paul
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8895-6941
authors: P
authors: Studenic
authors: Rheumatology Department, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: Christian Gytz
authors: CG
authors: Ammitzbøll
authors: Department of Molecular Rheumatology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Mary
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2310-2563
authors: M
authors: Canavan
authors: Arthritis Research UK Centre for Epidemiology, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.
authors: Meghna
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1487-277X
authors: M
authors: Jani
authors: Center of Experimental Rheumatology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Ospelt
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Inflammation-Immunopathology-Biotherapy Department (DHU i2B), Sorbonne University, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA), AP-HP Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris, France.
authors: Francis
authors: F
authors: Berenbaum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D035843:Biomedical Research; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D008297:Male; D012219:Rheumatology; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D060756:Social Networking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Epidemiology; Health services research; Quality Indicators