ABSTRACT
Objective: The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) uses social media to increase awareness of the Society, its members, and its key programs (e.g. Annual Meeting and advocacy efforts). Primary audiences include SMFM members;fellow OB clinicians and organizations;policy makers;members of the media;and pregnant individuals and their families. Our objectives were: 1) to compare recent growth in followers of the SMFM Twitter and Facebook accounts, and 2) to identify content areas with the highest reach. Study Design: This is a retrospective study of Twitter Analytics and Facebook Insights data for the SMFM accounts (@MySMFM for Twitter and @SocietyforMaternalFetalMedicine for Facebook) both created in 2009. Available follower growth data (Aug 2019 through Jun 2021) were collected. We collated the top 10 posts on Twitter and Facebook between Jan 2019 and June 2021, defined by the posts with the most impressions or people reached to identify topic areas of high public interest. Results: While the overall number of followers gained since Aug 2019 was similar, follower growth was 50% (6448/12777) for Twitter vs. 30% (6653/22168) for Facebook (Fig. 1). Follower growth for Facebook was greater than for Twitter from Aug 2019 - Jun 2020 (4299 vs. 3103, respectively);however, Facebook growth was surpassed by Twitter during the period from Jul 2020 - Jun 2021 (2354 vs. 3385). When comparing the top 10 posts for each account, there was no difference in median impressions/reach of Twitter vs. Facebook: 35,084 (IQR 24,634-48,145) vs. 28,875 (IQR 24,819-44,361;Table 1, p=ns). The 10 most popular Tweets were shared more recently than the most popular Facebook posts. The topics that had the highest reach between the 2 platforms were: COVID vaccine (n=7), COVID (n=6), vaccines - non-COVID (n=3), disparities/racism (n=2), and research/other (n=2). Conclusion: Trends in SMFM social media growth suggest that Twitter has become more popular in recent years. Unsurprisingly, posts on COVID-19 and COVID vaccines had the furthest reach, although non-COVID vaccine-related Facebook posts were also popular prior to the pandemic. [Formula presented] [Formula presented]
ABSTRACT
Background: Virtual Reality (VR) provides a way to transport someone to a different place and time. Harlington Hospice has explored using VR with inpatients, including the oldest old. It has taken patients back to the street where they grew up or to visit tropical places on their bucket list. These experiences have been uplifting and the feedback has provoked further exploration of the use of VR during the pandemic. Goals: The primary goal is to provide personalised VR content to inpatients. COVID-19 has meant that patients, even in a hospice, have had to endure visiting restrictions - the antithesis of palliative care and often heartbreaking. The use of VR cannot replace a loved one sitting at the bedside, but the VR experience might provide spiritual comfort. A secondary goal is to provide family with a means to stay connected with the patient. Empowering people to attend virtually may reduce guilt and grief caused by separation. Design and Proposal: A 360 (GoPro) camera is provided to family or friends of inpatients. They take the camera home and the recorded content of home life is then played in VR to the patient, immersing the patient back into family life. This is very different from just watching a video. Family and friends can tell stories and say their goodbyes, and the patient will feel fully part of the conversation when they use the headset. Discussion: After publishing 'How Virtual Reality helped Pam (aged 86) travel to the Galapagos Islands!' in the Hospice newsletter, 2 VR headsets have been donated plus a grant to buy the GoPro camera. Policies covering data collection, consent, confidentiality and headset care are in place. Written instructions are provided with the camera and a number for phone assistance. Once the personalised VR content has been created, it is transferred onto the VR headset. Qualitative experience and impact themes will be collected. We are not aware of VR being used in this way by any other provider.