Learned so much in this evening's @AACI_Cancer@ webinar on physician use of social media! Dr. @fumikochino highlighted sev successful research collaborations that began via #SoMe & said that Twitter has helped a lot with the "hustle" all #MedTwitter junior faculty face.
Dr. @SyedAAhmad5, who began tweeting during the #pandemic, highlighted opportunities to expand reach of #MedEd via #SoMe. For example, he taught this to #MedStudentTwitter, then realized there was no reason the learning needed to be confined to his operating room. cc @AACI_Cancer
We talked about harnessing the power of #SoMe to build #MedTwitter community. Dr. @Jasosamd discussed the support & collaboration in online #SurgTwitter groups. Dr @fumikochino shared a poignant story about the impact of losing a pt #advocacy friend she knew only from Twitter.
We shared tips for #MedTwitter & #SurgTwitter colleagues of all ages starting out on #SoMe. Among the pearls:
💡Send your inaugural tweet at a conference (@fumikochino) for ⬆️engagement
💡Don't shy away from using the🎙️you've been handed, but tweet responsibly (@SyedAAhmad5 & me)
It's clear #SoMe can expand the reach of your work & your network, which should be reflected downstream in trad academic measures (eg. publications, talks, etc). But #AcademicTwitter is also prob overdue to account for social media directly in #MedTwitter promotions. @Jasosamd
Last but not least, we talked about THE BIG Q: How much time should we spend on social media? Would #MedTwitter time be better spent elsewhere? We all recommended to know why you're on #SoMe, whether you're viewing content or creating your own, to avoid wasting time. cc @Jasosamd
Despite the challenges of #MedTwitter (in gen'l & recently...), this webinar reminded me why I ♥️ it here: great colleagues I might never have otherwise met, open exchange of ideas, opportunities for #MedEd, #mentorship, research collaboration, #advocacy, & more. Carry on, fam.😍
I'll close with this: if you're planning a panel, you NEED a surgeon moderator. Holy timekeeping, @Jasosamd! Zero rushing, exactly 60 mins. Planning a panel? Watch the @AACI_Cancer session (will post link in 🧵once recording avail). She's expert level. Mad respect, #SurgTwitter.
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#MedTwitter
There is a widespread outbreak of #norovirus, a GI virus that causes projectile vomiting & profuse diarrhea usually lasting 24-48 hrs. Wastewater levels nationwide are high. It’s miserable & incredibly contagious. So many friends are texting us SOS, so here’s a 🧵. /1
Norovirus spreads when as few as 10 viral particles get in the mouth. This happens via direct contact (eg, kissing), contaminated food/water, or touching contaminated surfaces (countertop, toy, soiled clothes) then mouth (eg, toddler toys in mouth, eating by hand, nailbiting). /2
#MedTwitter
Given how contagious #norovirus is & how it spreads, it is like a brushfire in close quarters and/or where common items are handled by many. Cruise ships are famous for outbreaks, but also daycares/schools, dorms, dining hall/salad bars, nursing homes, jails, etc. /3
🧵 #MedTwitter IMPORTANT
The case of this 🇨🇦 adolescent with #H5N1 #BirdFlu is terrifying. Her only medical history was mild asthma, & symptoms started w/ fever and conjunctivitis. On d5 from symptom onset, she was admitted in respiratory failure, kidney failure, in shock … /1
Despite 3 antivirals (oseltamivir, amantadine, & baloxavir) to which her virus appeared to be susceptible & plasma exchange (three times !!), she spent 2 wks on ECMO and almost 3 wks on a ventilator and was dialysis-dependent. She survived. Let her be a warning, #MedTwitter /2
In an H5N1 outbreak, if even a small % of people get so sick, hospitals are in trouble. If a #H5N1 virus gains ability to spread btwn humans & enters widespread circulation, humanity is in trouble. No amount of #publichealth effort or cost to prep for #BirdFlu is too great. /3
#MedTwitter
NEW Analysis of 641K hospital admissions in 3.5y finds ending universal masking & #COVID19 testing was assoc w/ a 25% ⬆️ in hospital-onset resp viral infections (w/ longer stay & ⬆️ mortality) & resumption of universal hospital masking with a 33% ⬇️. #WearAMask /1
#MedTwitter
The ⬇️ in respiratory viral infections w/ universal masking included #COVID19, #influenza, & #RSV: .
We need universal masking in hospitals, especially now when #SARSCoV2, #flu, & #RSV levels are high nationwide based on wastewater testing. /2 ja.ma/3Z5fdn7
#MedTwitter
The study didn’t assess #longCovid (LC) risk but given that preventing #COVID19 is the only reliable way to prevent LC, universal masking in hospital would likely also ⬇️ LC risk. In my opinion, lack of universal masking should be a hospital quality measure. /3
President Jimmy Carter died today at age 100, having lived w/ melanoma that had spread to his brain & liver for >9y. I grew up in GA admiring him, so as an oncologist, I’d like to honor his life by teaching you a bit. #melsm #MedTwitter
First, the ⚠️ signs (ABCDE 👇) & pics
/1
It’s important to know who’s at ⬆️ risk for #melanoma (see 📸 ).
UV exposure (☀️ or tanning bed) is the major risk.
Having 5 sunburns doubles your lifetime risk of melanoma. Age matters. Even ONE blistering sunburn as a kid/teen doubles lifetime risk!
🔑 AVOID BURNS! /2
People with dark skin can also get melanoma (though they are at much lower risk than people with fair skin).
And #melanoma can appear in unusual places including some you might not expect like your nails or even areas that get little or no sun exposure. /3
NEW 📣 Nat’l study in #Sweden: 86% of people on sick leave due to #COVID19 in wave 1 of #pandemic still had symptoms 18m later, esp fatigue, cognition, sleep, movement. Risks higher if hospitalized or female. Vax didn’t exist then.
#MedTwitter #LongCovid
The study also found nearly half of respondents also had problems w/ functioning in daily life 18 mos after they were infected w/ #COVID19. That is #LongCovid. This is a stunning number.
Sweden never had a full lockdown or mask mandate in wave 1. /2
#MedTwitter
With this approach, #COVID19 deaths were noticeably higher in #Sweden than in neighboring countries with more precautions. For example, see this graph from ABC based on a Johns Hopkins analysis of the region. The King said: “I think we have failed.” /3 au.news.yahoo.com/leaders-tragic…
NEW Longest prospective study of #LongCovidKids: 1.3K kids who tested pos for #COVID19 were followed up to 3y. Of note, 89% of cases were “mild” & 9% had no symptoms, & 80% had zero doses of vaccine. Mix of variants, but most were Omicron then Delta. /1 thelancet.com/action/showPdf…
Sadly, 23% of kids had #LongCovid at 3 mos. While #s fell over time, 13% at 6 mos, 8% at 1 yr, 6% at 18 mos, & 7% at 2 yrs still had #LongCovid. This is tragic, both because it means that 1 in 12 kids are still suffering a year later, & most of those remain ill longer term. /2
Adolescents/teens were at MUCH greater risk than age <12, as were those infected by earlier variants. Females & those w/ comorbidities were also at slightly increased risk. Infection w/ orig variant resulted in ⬆️ autoimmune disease. Vaccination reduced risk of #LongCovid. /3