With social media use skyrocketing among physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of these online platforms has attracted greater attention within the medical profession. Collaborating with a team of researchers from several North American institutions, Bonnie He, MD, led an investigation of how ophthalmologists used social media to navigate personal and professional development challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.¹ This article reviews the findings of that study.

STUDY IN DETAIL

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, He et al¹ directed a cross-sectional survey study consisting of a 40-item questionnaire. The survey was distributed via social media to active users in the ophthalmic field—including trainees and practitioners—between November and December 2020. Basic and descriptive statistics were utilized to evaluate quantitative responses, and thematic analysis was employed to assess qualitative responses.

Of the 149 respondents, a majority (67%) were women. The audience was predominantly North American (78.5%), and most participants identified with either White (52.4%) or Asian (32.2%) ethnicities. Anterior segment, cornea, and refractive surgery was the most represented subspecialty (26%).

The survey findings demonstrated the prevalence of social media use among ophthalmologists. An overwhelming majority of respondents (86%) reported having a professional social media account. Instagram (57.7%), LinkedIn (51.7%), and Facebook (45.0%) were the most popular platforms. Notably, a majority (64%) of respondents indicated that they spend more than 1 hour per day on social media. The five prevailing reasons why participants used social media were: (1) to stay in touch with family, (2) to promote their practice and/or professional services, (3) to educate patients and/or the public about ophthalmology, (4) to share interesting clinical and/or surgical cases with colleagues in their field, and (5) to find mentorship and/or networking opportunities.

Through quantitative analysis, the researchers identified social media’s capacity to help users overcome barriers related to age, gender, and career stage.

Age

Participants were divided into two mutually exclusive age groups: younger (< 45 years) and older (> 45 years). Although the COVID-19 pandemic limited opportunities for younger ophthalmologists to seek professional advice and networking, social media helped fill that void. Compared to older respondents, younger respondents were more likely to report inexperience with practice management (P < .01) and challenges with work-life harmony (P < .05). Nonetheless, younger participants (who reported more frequent social media use in general) were more likely to turn to social media as a tool to overcome these obstacles as compared to their older counterparts (P < .01). Further, older respondents were more likely to use social media as a tool for mentorship, by facilitating connections with students, trainees, and fellow practitioners more than younger respondents (P < .05).

Gender

Although workplace discrimination was among the least represented challenges overall, women were still more likely than men to experience this obstacle (P < .01), citing gender bias as the most common reason for discrimination. Women also reported experiencing work-life disharmony more frequently than men (P < .05). Social media, however, proved helpful in negotiating these challenges. Women reported social media to be more useful for overcoming challenges related to workplace discrimination (P < .01), work-life disharmony (P < .001), parenting (P < .0001), and mentorship (P < .05) compared to men. Women were also more likely than men to utilize social media to discuss and seek support for gender issues (P < .05).

Career Stage

Participants were divided into three mutually exclusive career stages: (1) trainees (residents and fellows), (2) early career (0–10 years in practice), or (3) late career (≥ 11 years in practice). Trainees were more likely to report difficulties with career planning or advancement (P < .05) and financial planning (P < .05) when compared to late-career ophthalmologists. Nonetheless, trainees reported that social media was helpful in overcoming these financial strategy obstacles.

In the qualitative analysis of free-text responses, the investigators identified five positively oriented themes for integrating social media: (1) promotion of career development opportunities, (2) community and networking, (3) education, (4) mentorship, and (5) lifestyle recommendations. They also identified two negatively oriented themes: (1) risk of misinformation and (2) perceived bias toward younger audiences. Further, respondents underlined social media’s unique capacity to foster “the rapid and expansive amplification of career advancement and learning opportunities, particularly in the realm of networking, community building, fostering education, and facilitating mentorship.”

Considering COVID-19’s impact on national and international gatherings, several comments emphasized social media’s ability to connect “geographically and socially distant individuals, which can transcend the professional domain and may protect against feelings of loneliness and burnout.”  

• Social media has helped me to stay in touch with mentors and mentees. I love to teach, and Instagram provides a great venue to build a collection of teaching materials that can be accessed by others in an asynchronous fashion. Particularly in 2020, social media has played a strong role in my journey by helping me stay connected with others in my field and even develop new relationships, replacing (in an imperfect, more limited way) the type of organic connections that happen at in-person meetings.” —Trainee
• Social media helps to find instant connection with colleagues that I would never otherwise meet. Practicing in a small remote community limits access to professional communication and support. Sometimes [the] social media community fills the void of loneliness as well.” —Early-Career Ophthalmologist
• Connecting with others in medicine and feeling like I am part of the house of medicine has helped prevent burnout.” —Late-Career Ophthalmologist

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically altered the medical landscape, impacting areas such as teaching, networking, and career advancement. Social media’s emergence as a popular tool among ophthalmologists proved to be invaluable in navigating personal and professional challenges. Particularly for women, trainees, and new practitioners, social media facilitated opportunities for mentorship, supported community building, and improved access to education.

1. He B, Tanya SM, Costello F, Kherani F, Shamie S, Zhu D. Navigating personal and professional development through social media in ophthalmology. Clin Ophthalmol. 2022;16:2263-2274.