Volume 131, Issue 11 pp. 2455-2460

Comprehensive Otolaryngology

Otolaryngology Residency Program Rankings and Social Media Usage: A Longitudinal Analysis

Ankita Patro MD, MS,

Ankita Patro MD, MS

orcid.org/0000-0001-8370-9071

Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.

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Shane Carr BS,

Shane Carr BS

School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.

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Madelyn N. Stevens MD,

Madelyn N. Stevens MD

orcid.org/0000-0001-9315-4866

Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.

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Kelly C. Landeen MD,

Kelly C. Landeen MD

orcid.org/0000-0002-8738-1429

Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.

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Nathan D. Cass MD,

Nathan D. Cass MD

Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.

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David S. Haynes MD, MMHC,

Corresponding Author

David S. Haynes MD, MMHC

[email protected]

Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.

Send correspondence to David S. Haynes, MD, MMHC, Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1215 21st Avenue S, Suite 7302, Medical Center East, Nashville, TN 37232. E-mail: [email protected]

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Ankita Patro MD, MS,

Ankita Patro MD, MS

orcid.org/0000-0001-8370-9071

Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.

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Shane Carr BS,

Shane Carr BS

School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.

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Madelyn N. Stevens MD,

Madelyn N. Stevens MD

orcid.org/0000-0001-9315-4866

Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.

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Kelly C. Landeen MD,

Kelly C. Landeen MD

orcid.org/0000-0002-8738-1429

Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.

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Nathan D. Cass MD,

Nathan D. Cass MD

Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.

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David S. Haynes MD, MMHC,

Corresponding Author

David S. Haynes MD, MMHC

[email protected]

Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.

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First published: 17 May 2021

https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.29621

Citations: 8

Editor's Note: This Manuscript was accepted for publication on May 06, 2021.

The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Abstract

Objective

Social media is a powerful networking tool among health care organizations. This study determines correlations between program reputation and social media activity and popularity, specifically among otolaryngology residency programs.

Methods

Accredited programs, excluding military and osteopathic, in the United States were included. Activity and popularity on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram were assessed during the same 7-month period from 2016 to 2020. Doximity Residency reputation scores (dividing programs into quartiles) and US News & World Report (comparing programs affiliated with top hospitals versus those with unranked hospitals) were utilized to compare differences based on reputation.

Results

Of 104 programs, 91 (88%) had social media accounts. Instagram and Twitter were more commonly used than Facebook, with 78 (75%), 49 (47%), and 42 (40%) accounts, respectively. The cumulative use of all three platforms grew yearly, while Twitter (R² = 0.9863) and Instagram (R² = 0.9955) presence increased exponentially. Doximity's top quartile programs had more Facebook (P = .020), Twitter (P < .001), and Instagram (P = .102) accounts. First-quartile programs also adopted each platform months before fourth-quartile programs. Stratified by US News & World Report, ranked programs had more social media accounts, with 24 (53%) on Facebook (P = .028), 32 (71%) on Twitter (P < .001), and 37 (82%) on Instagram (P = .155). Programs with higher reputations were more active and exhibited increased likes and followers over time.

Conclusion

Social media use among otolaryngology programs has grown exponentially, with Instagram and Twitter becoming the dominant platforms. Higher ranked programs are more active on social media, have more followers, and adopt social media earlier.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 131:2455–2460, 2021

Supporting Information

Filename

Description

lary29621-sup-0001-Supinfo.docxWord 2007 document , 713 KB

Figure S1. Facebook use and popularity over time among otolaryngology programs, stratified by program quartile based on Doximity reputation ranking. (A) number of posts and (B) likes on posts from March 1st to September 30th from 2016 to 2020.

Figure S2. Facebook use and popularity over time among otolaryngology programs, stratified by US News & World Report Ranking. (A) number of posts and (B) likes on posts from March 1st to September 30th from 2016 to 2020.

Figure S3. Twitter use and popularity over time among otolaryngology programs, stratified by program quartile based on Doximity reputation ranking. (A) number of tweets, (B) tweet likes, and (C) retweets from March 1st to September 30th from 2016 to 2020.

Figure S4. Twitter use and popularity over time among otolaryngology programs, stratified by US News & World Report Ranking. (A) number of tweets, (B) tweet likes, and (C) retweets from March 1st to September 30th from 2016 to 2020.

Figure S5. Instagram use and popularity over time among otolaryngology programs, stratified by program quartile based on Doximity reputation ranking. (A) number of posts and (B) likes on posts from March 1st to September 30th from 2016 to 2020.

Figure S6. Instagram use and popularity over time among otolaryngology programs, stratified by US News & World Report Ranking. (A) number of posts and (B) likes on posts from March 1st to September 30th from 2016 to 2020.

Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.

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Volume131, Issue11

November 2021

Pages 2455-2460

Otolaryngology Residency Program Rankings and Social Media Usage: A Longitudinal Analysis

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Level of Evidence

Supporting Information

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Citing Literature

References

Information

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Otolaryngology Residency Program Rankings and Social Media Usage: A Longitudinal Analysis

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Level of Evidence

Supporting Information

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Citing Literature

References

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