Digital Abstracts: Communicating Scientific Publications with Accessible Design

Dudley T, Silva DD, Zomar BO, Mulpuri K, Schaeffer EK. Digital Abstracts: Communicating Scientific Publications with Accessible Design. Canadian Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting, Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 11-14 2024.

Abstract

Purpose:

High quality research is essential to improving clinical outcomes and quality of life for patients. However, if dissemination strategies fail to reach an appropriate audience, the potential impact of the findings is greatly diminished. While the peer review process is critical to ensure appropriate methodological rigour, there is limited potential for reach via traditional dissemination methods (research databases, journals). We wanted to investigate the value of social media platforms to disseminate research findings in a digestible, accessible format: digital abstracts.

Method:

Digital abstracts distill the content of scientific studies in plain language; key messages are conveyed by text and images in a video no longer than 90 seconds. We created digital abstracts for six of our published studies, and posted the digital abstracts to one or more social media platforms (Instagram, Twitter (X), and YouTube). We examined metrics like views and audience reached across social media platforms and compared to citations and available reader metrics for their respective publications.

Results:

Studies were published in the following journals: Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics (2), Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics B (1), Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (1), Indian Journal of Orthopaedics (1) and Medical Journal of Australia (1); 4/6 were published open access. Median number of citations was 9 (range 4-55), with citations increasing with length of time since publication. Reader information on Mendeley was available for 3/6 studies, with an average of 39 readers.
All digital abstracts were posted on Instagram, garnering a median of 802.5 plays (range 381-1409) and reaching a median of 490 accounts (range 81-951). Digital abstracts achieved an average of 20.2-fold more Instagram plays than Mendeley readers. 4/6 abstracts were also posted on Twitter and YouTube, and garnered a median of 653 Twitter impressions (range 198-4101). There was far less engagement on YouTube (range 3-8 views).

The audience on Instagram included accounts from Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, India, and Brazil, predominantly in the 25-34-year age range; these appear to be mostly patients/parents or accounts with a connection to a pediatric hip condition.


Conclusion:

Digital abstracts substantially increased interaction with our studies compared to relying on publication readers alone. This method of results communication presents an effective opportunity to disseminate important research findings in an accessible way to a diverse audience of knowledge users. This knowledge translation strategy holds great potential to further the impact and increase uptake of newly generated clinical knowledge.

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