title: Social media and Internet usage of orthopaedic surgeons.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The main objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of social media and Internet usage of orthopaedists and to determine its effects on patient-physician communication.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected by e-mail from 321 orthopaedists who filled out the questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of a total 25 items pertaining to personal information, which social media tool they use, their overall views of and expectations from social media, the effects of social media on patient-physician relationship and communication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rates of keeping in contact with patients and "often" helping patients to manage their treatments over social media increased with age (p< 0.05). It was found that the rate of helping patients to manage their treatments over social media was significantly higher in academicians compared to that in specialist physicians (p= 0.040). The rates of having a personal website and being a member of online physician platform and social-networking sites were higher in participants working in the private sector than participants working in the public sector (p= 0.001). It was found that the rate of finding it useful to be in contact with patients over social media was higher in physicians working in the private sector compared to that in those working in the public sector (p< 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Social media tools and Internet are commonly used by orthopaedists to communicate with their patients. Even though there are beneficial effects in patient-physician relationship, effective standards and regulations should be developed to enable a safe communication and to resolve ethical and legal uncertainties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tahir Mutlu
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Duymuş
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Bahçelievler Medikal Park Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hilmi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karadeniz
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Sakarya Training and Research Hospital, Sakarya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Şükür
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Atiç
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Hitit University Faculty of Medicine, Çorum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zehir
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: İbrahim
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Azboy
keywords: Communication; Internet; Orthopaedist; Patient; Social media